Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks for the views and responses, this chapter has been a bit strange to write as I had to contemplate what Po is thinking.

After Po walked down the steps from the kitchen and left to go to his room he heard Mantis talking about something but decided just to leave it alone and go to his room but before he reached the barracks he turned to the kitchen for another look at his friends before going to bed but he noticed that Tigress was staring at him. Po immediately broke eye contact and turned to go, he walked down the hallway oblivious to everything around him 'How can I tell the others that I'm having nightmares, I mean I'm not sure if they are nightmares they feel so real and I have no clue what they're about that's what scares me. What if they're real and this is a vision?' Po was still in deep thought unaware that while trying to process his thoughts in his room hours had passed and the now five left the kitchen to get some sleep. Viper decided to check on the panda as the other masters turned in for the night.

"Hey Po?" Viper softly opened the door to Po's room hoping to find the cheery panda but he didn't respond as he was still trying to find out the reason behind his 'visions'.

Viper slithered closer to the panda knowing that something is on his mind troubling him. Viper had a talent when it came to her friends she knew when something was bothering them or when trying to hard something they each had their signs when they were lying. Po was the easiest to tell as he would get nervous play with his hands and look everywhere except the person he lied to.

"Po!" Viper knew she would have to raise her voice to get the panda's attention.

Po snapped out of his thoughts to see a snake staring at him with her famous caring looks. Po couldn't help but smile as he saw Viper.

"Huh? Oh sorry Viper, I-It's that I've got a lot on my mind" Po tried to smile after that but it was a weak smile.

Viper saw this as an opportunity to see what was on his mind she decided to slither closer to Po hoping to comfort him so he could feel confident to speak.

"Like what Po?" Viper sat closer giving him her full attention.

Po looked at the green tree snake and just sighed "Look I know you're worried about me but I don't even know what this nightmare is even about?"

"Have you asked Shifu? He could help." Viper looked at Po hoping he would agree, she hated seeing her friends' miserable.

Po looked at Viper and just sighed "Viper, thanks for the attention but I'm sure this will just pass you know how nightmares go but..." before Po could finish the sentence he let out a yawn "Heh, today has made me quite tired but thanks for the help" Po smiled sincerely at Viper hoping she'd understand.

Viper got the hint that Po wanted to get some sleep "Hey Po if you decide to leave again to meditate make sure to leave a note" Viper laughed at the memory of this morning.

Po couldn't help but laugh at the same time "Yeah will do, goodnight Viper"

"Goodnight Po" with that Viper slithered quietly out of the room closing the door behind her until she heard a click but it wasn't from Po's room. Viper heard the noise coming from Tigress' door knowing that her feline friend was eavesdropping. Viper smiled finally closing the panda's door she would ask Tigress in the morning what she was doing.

During the night Po found it hard to sleep he was twisting and turning in his sleep while sweating murmuring under his breath as the nightmare plagued him once more.

In Po's Dreamstate

Everything was bright and all blurry there was seven objects hanging from the ceiling dangling with pillars all around him. Po had trouble remembering the room he was in as the detail in the dream was all blurry as he turned in his dream there was lean figure standing in front of him, not a ounce of fat on the figure, pure muscle he tried to make out the figure but the white light radiating off the figure made it impossible to determine anything other than the build of the figure.

"Who are you?" Po started covering his eyes from the bright light emanating off of the figure.

The figure didn't move a muscle not the slightest twitch and just remained silent.

"What do you want?" Po was starting to get angry of the fact he was being ignored and pestered by this figure. But still no reply came from the figure.

Po decided that he has had enough of this vision and got into fighting stance declaring what he was going to do next.

"Tell me who you are and what you want!" Po was ready to attack if the figure didn't respond to him but as Po knew that the figure was going to respond so he attacked hoping to beat the answers out of the mysterious figure but as he lunged to hit the figure it disappeared.

"Wha?" But before Po realised the figure disappeared he was flying straight into the pillar and banged his head.

The figure was standing behind him still not revealing the identity, and then as Po got up he knew that this fight wasn't going to be fair he was fighting a nightmare! Something that could bend his mind as he was thinking the figure charged forward and before the palm of the strike landed everything went black.

"NO!" Po woke up sweating profusely though in his other dreams he never engaged the figure but this time he had it.

Po needed to clear his head again, He scribbled a quick note to inform the others about his plans so they wouldn't panic like last time he didn't need another episode with a pissed off tiger again. The note read 'going to the Sacred peach tree to try and meditate' Po decided that was enough and left it on his bed ready for Shifu.

Po opened his door quietly so that he didn't wake the others, however getting down the hallway without making a squeaking noise that was the hard part however the lessons he received from Tigress on how to move quietly paid off as he got out of the barracks and left for the peach tree.

Morning quickly approached and again Po was deep in meditation trying to rid his thoughts of the vision he had. He tried many things from noodles to kung-fu to beating Tai Lung no good thoughts managed to clear his mind of the vision. Just as he was about to give up on meditation his mind dropped on to sparring with Tigress and as he thought of the feline everything went black and all he could see was those beautiful ember eyes she had and the way she flew through the air gracefully and landed on the swinging clubs.

Even though the morning gong went off he couldn't hear it as he was deep in thoughts about Tigress.

At the Barracks

"Good Morning Master" the Five as usual greeted their master on the new day but this time they all looked to Po's door noticing as usual he wasn't there but after his escapade yesterday Shifu decided instead of shouting for him he would go in himself and check on him.

As Shifu walked through the door his scanned the room for the panda and noticed he was gone again but this time his eyes caught a piece of paper "going to the Sacred peach tree to try and meditate" Shifu was glad he remembered to leave a note but this sudden change of behaviour was starting to worry him and the lack of sleep.

"Master? Is everything all right?" Tigress stood behind Shifu wondering what he was thinking.

"Yes Tigress would you go get Po so he can start breakfast?" Shifu turned around to Tigress.

"Yes Master" Tigress bowed and turned away and walked off.

While walking to the peach tree she started to wonder how much Po has changed 'He's gone from and fat lazy annoying panda to a funny cheery friend that she could go to feel better however lately he just hasn't been himself getting up early, meditating and not eating something is obviously bothering him and as a friend I should at least try to find out so I can help him' While coming to the end of her thought she reached the sacred peach tree to see the panda sitting lotus position underneath.

Tigress decided to sit down next to him hoping he would feel her presence and hear her sit down but Po was deep into his meditation thinking about the very person sitting next to him and as he thought of the feline a smile was smugly on his face brightening his face.

Tigress looked at Po and saw the smile on his face and how calm he looked and after looking at him for awhile she started smiling too, whenever she was around Po. She felt happy and content; she would also get this weird feeling in her stomach too the feline couldn't care what the feeling was but all she knew is that she loved this feeling and she wanted to be around him more 'I hate to admit it but he is kind of cute'. Did she really just think that? Master Tigress leader of the Furious Five start to get emotionally connected to someone and a Panda at that too! Tigress tried to shake the thoughts out of her head so she could try to be emotionally disconnected but as she tried harder more thoughts popped into her mind 'he's kind, sweet and cooks good too!'.

Tigress tried hard to think of something else but kept on landing onto the panda sitting next to her and now her heartbeat increased. She had to do something to stop these thoughts and just on cue her stomach rumbled reminding her that the others are waiting.

"Po?" Tigress nudged Po lightly on the shoulder hoping to softly bring him back.

He didn't even much as to groan to the disturbance 'wow he must be deep into his meditation looks like I am going to have hit him to get him up'. Thought she didn't want to she drew her hand back and slapped Po across the face shouting "PO!".

With the force of the slap and shouting the panda woke up banging his head on the tree "OW!"

Tigress could only laugh as he banged his head into the tree before looking into Po's jade green eyes. Oh how she loved looking into them.

"Uh-Tigress? Why are you staring at me?" Po looked at Tigress expecting for her to say that snot is coming out of his nose or how disgusting he looked.

"Oh, Master Shifu sent me to get you to start breakfast" Tigress looked away quickly blushing but thankfully her bright orange fur did a good job of hiding it.

"Oh I uh guess we should head back then?" Po looked at Tigress waiting for her to agree.

However Tigress thought this would be the time to ask Po about his nightmare.

"Po can I ask you a question?" Tigress looked straight into his eyes when talking to him.

Po felt nervous as Tigress never looked into his eyes without growling or snarling at him

"Uh-Yeah I-I guess" Po felt very uncomfortable with this situation he was in.

"What's been bothering you lately? I heard you talking with Viper yesterday and well..." while swallowing her pride trying to get through to him "I-I'm worried about you." Wincing at what she said, she felt embarrassed.

Po was taken back by this Master Tigress worried about him? The only thing he thought that she worried about was using a different technique of how to beat his ass.

"I-Its nothing" that's all he could muster up after being shocked that Tigress cares about him.

Tigress' eyes narrowed as he said this "Nothing? You barely get any sleep, meditate more than Shifu does! And now skip food? Po don't tell me that it's nothing!" Tigress' voice wasn't fully filled with anger more with worry.

"Well what else am I going to say that I'm having a nightmare about something I can't see and beats me to a pulp?" Realising what he said he just sighed

Tigress just smiled in victory as he said what was plaguing his mind.

"Now you've heard my weakness you happy? Can I go now?" Po looked into the ground with his spirit crushed as he revealed this pitiful nightmare that has plagued his mind to the person he admires the most.

Tigress' smile faded after she saw the panda's reaction to what he said. When he asked if he could go like she was holding him against his will she also sank.

"Po I-I didn't mean..." but before she could finish Po finished it for the feline but sarcastically.

"Of course you didn't" with that he turned and walked off 'Man she played me, making me think she cared for me, I should've known Tigress has never cared about me' with that he felt tears come to his eyes that his idol still hated him but he pushed them back not showing anymore weakness he kept walking to the kitchen but not with the bounce that he once had.

Tigress looked at him walk away with his head looking to floor looking disgraced and she scolded herself 'What was I thinking! Po doesn't deserve to feel like this. If only Po knew that I actually care why did I have to treat him like dirt when he came here now he can't believe me when I'm trying to open up' Tigress just wanted to scream in frustration but decided she would work it off in training but first she needed to get something to eat or she would die of starvation.

Po walked into the kitchen where the other masters except Tigress were they all greeted Po but he just ignored them and got cooking still hanging his head. The masters just looked at each other wondering what was wrong they never saw Po this deflated.

Just before Viper was going to ask what was wrong with Po Tigress walked into the room and everyone looked at her with suspicious eyes she walked over to her chair and sat down like nothing was wrong but occasionally stealing glances at Po unaware that her tail was twitching. Viper knew her friends very well and when Tigress' tail twitches she is either lying or has something bothering her and by the looks she was giving Po. Po was making her bothered.

Viper leaned over to Tigress whispering as low as possible "What happened at the peach tree?" Tigress just shot back a glare "I'll tell you later after training" with that she just went back into her own thoughts.

Po finished the cooking and skilfully handed out the soup and sat down quickly tucking into his own food.

"I will never get over this stuff" Mantis started stuffing his face with the noodles

Crane just looked at him as he splashed the liquid everywhere "Mantis where's your table manners?"

Mantis glared back at Crane but before he could say anything Viper hissed at the pair making them put their heads down in defeat and eat quietly.

Once Po had finished his meal he got up and left immediately without saying a word the whole time when they looked up they saw him go to the training room.

"Ugh is it me or does Po seem in an even worse mood?" Mantis was always the one to point out the obvious.

Tigress just got up and left going to the training room to try a vent some frustration on the swinging clubs. After she left Mantis decided once again to point the obvious out again "Seems like..." but before Mantis finished Monkey interrupted "Mantis we know. Training is well going to be interesting."

Po decided that he would just train on the Adversary as usual as he didn't even care if Tigress' wanted to spar or not, deal or not however when Po saw Tigress start up The Seven Swinging Clubs of Instant Oblivion he sighed with relief. Tigress knew that Po wouldn't want to spar and she didn't want to ruin their friendship anymore by trying so she decided to train on the Swinging Clubs this time though she had a lot on her mind so she her balance was a bit off and reactions were slower than usual.

Training went on for a few hours which consisted of the usual schedule they had nothing was said during the whole session which was strange as Po would usually say something or make weird noises while fighting the Adversary until the Training was filled with a large crack of Master Tigress destroying one of the clubs. After that she jumped off and proceeded to her room where so could relax and think about the day. Viper shortly followed Tigress to get find out what happened between Tigress and Po at the peach tree.

Po told the others that he was going down to the village to help his dad at the restaurant and then left. Mantis, Monkey and Crane looked at each other before sighing.

Crane was the first to pick up on the fact that no-one knew how to cook "Uh-guys, what are we going to eat. Po has just gone and we can't cook"

Monkey just sighed "Looks like we'll have to get take-away"

Mantis just groaned at the idea but had no choice if he wanted to eat.

Tigress was finally in her room hoping that she would get some peace so that she could think. However Viper had other plans the green tree snake slithered slowly into Tigress' room making sure that she could hear her enter.

"Tigress? Want to talk about it?" Viper closed the door behind to make sure they wouldn't be disturbed.

Tigress only sighed softly as she was about to swallow some more pride and admit to what she had done "Yesterday you were talking to Po, I chose to listen in and earlier this morning I confronted him about it and he accidently admitted about his dream and he was ashamed that he did." Tigress started to feel worse than she already did.

Viper just slithered up to her and smiled understanding how she felt "and this upsets you?"

Tigress looked at the green snake "Yes I-I mean No-No I mean..." she started to feel tears starting to build up but held the back.

Viper knew all along that Tigress liked Po it was obvious how she would stare at him when he was making dinner and how she snapped at him at the Pool only someone who cared would've done what she did. "Tigress it's not a bad thing caring for someone it's a sign that you're alive".

Tigress looked away staring down into the village "It's more than that... Whenever I'm around Po I just feel happy and safe and it hurts me to see him like this I thought that if I asked him what was wrong he would open up and not feel like this that I could make him happy."

Viper could only smile at what her feline friend was admitting "Sounds like you love him"

Tigress snapped her head and glared at the tree snake. "I DON'T LOVE HIM!"

The tree snake knew she struck a chord with the feline "Okay if you don't love him this must be a crush or something not just friends I mean I'm friends with Po but I don't stare at him like you do Tigress"

Tigress looked again at the village before she let out a huge sigh of defeat "Maybe your right but Po won't believe the fact that I care for him and that hurts even more!"

Viper just smiled "Tigress he's only seen the hard exterior of you, the one that supposedly likes pounding the life out of him he has not seen this side of you the caring and loving side. I don't know how you will make Po believe but trust he has had a crush on before either of you met officially. Somehow I don't think that will change."

Tigress smiled at that "Just make sure no one knows about this Viper seriously as I will know who to look for!"

"Make sure who doesn't found out what?" the voice was familiar the masters both turned around to see a small red panda standing in the doorway.

"Master Shifu!" Both of the masters greeted their master

Tigress was the first to ask the question worrying "Did you hear any of what we were saying?"

Master Shifu looked confused "No, I just came to ask where the others went but is there something i should know?"

A/N: and with that I'm going to leave it like that open once again though I've got plenty of ideas where to take this next be sure to chip in and I'll see if it's better than my idea. By the way planning on making another story with a fresh character in the KFP world it's about a Male tiger who always liked a drink but after his mother's brutal murder he goes off the rail and drinks and fights too much the people turn to Shifu and the Five to help. Lemme know what you think of that story still debating whether to do it or not.