Chapter 9: A Promise Made

Tigress scanned the area searching for Po. He just bolted out the door and ran away. She honestly had forgotten how fast he could run. She sat down on the steps to digest what had happened. All her life she trained to be the Dragon Warrior and Po, the one who never had any Kung Fu experience was chosen. She wanted to be mad at him to hate him. But that was like asking her to sprout wings and fly. She just couldn't do it yeah sure she did get mad at Po a few times when they were younger but not enough to hate him. It wasn't his fault he was picked to be the Dragon Warrior. He was only there because she asked him to be. He was Po, the same panda boy who asked to be her friend and always had her back since. There was no way she could give up a friendship like that. Part of her was happy now she could share something else with him and that was the world of Kung Fu. He would move into the Jade Palace with them and they could train together. She could teach him all kinds of moves and they would go on adventures together like the ones they talked about when they were kids. Yes, she was disappointed but she was not going to let some title ruin her friendship with Po. She had to find him and let him know she was not angry. Then a smile came to her for she knew where Po had gone. The very place they both went we the other was sad, their place. Getting on all fours she rushed off to find her friend. Po was at the meadow near the lake banging his head into a tree.

"You stupid, stupid panda, how could you do this to Tigress? She was your friend, your best friend. How could you take her dream from her? She asked you a simple thing go to the ceremony and wish her luck. And what did you do? You showed up late, fall on top of her embarrassing her in front of everyone, and then boom you take her dream away", he said as he hit his head. Tears stung his face as he just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. In one single afternoon he took his friend's dream away and became something he didn't ask to be. He kept waiting to wake up and see Tigress in the village telling him about the ceremony and how she would say she was sorry he couldn't make it then tell him she was the Dragon Warrior. Then he would hug her and congratulate her and make her and the others a huge feast like he promised. Now he lost his best friend if he knew this would happen he never would have gone. Oogway made a mistake he was no fighter every time he tried to be a hero he got himself nearly killed and Tigress always had to come to his rescue. He was no warrior she was and she deserved the title more than he ever did. "Maybe I should leave the village for Tigress will never want to see me or speak to me ever again. Shoot, I will be lucky if she ever looks at me again. Way to go Po from all the times you messed up this was the King of all Mess Ups", he said sadly.

"Po, I knew I would find you here", Tigress said smiling. He had his back turned to her and refused to look around to face her. She frowned and knew why he wasn't looking at her. "Po, look it", Tigress began but Po cut her off.

"Was a mistake I know it should have been you Tigress not me I am no warrior you are. I never should have gone I should have stayed at my dad's shop and sold noodles that is what I am good at", Po said in a flat voice holding back tears. He couldn't stand to cry in front of her not today not when it was all his fault. He was surprised she wasn't yelling at him or scratching him with her claws. How could she even talk to him knowing what he did?

"Po look at me", Tigress said softly. He couldn't if he did he would break down and he was trying to keep whatever dignity he had left. To cry in front of Tigress now knowing he was chosen to be the Dragon Warrior would make him feel even more unworthy he wanted to hide his feelings so when he left the valley his heart wouldn't break. And Tigress may still respect him. "Po look at me!" Tigress cried as she grabbed his head and turned it to face her. She saw all the pain and sadness in his eyes. She knew what he was thinking but she had to prove him wrong. Their friendship meant more to her than some stupid title.

"I am sorry Tigress, I am so, so sorry", Po said as the tears fell. Tigress grabbed him in a hug and refused to let him go.

"Po, it is not your fault you did nothing wrong", Tigress said softly trying to calm him down.

Po pulled away and looked at her in shock and said", Nothing wrong, hello reality calling Tigress I just took your dream away. You just asked me to come and wish you and the others luck instead I fell from the sky and took your dream away. How can you even look at me let along even speak to me. You should hate me and I wouldn't blame you one bit".

"How can or could I ever hate my best friend?" Tigress asked him as a tear fell from her face. Po looked at her in surprise but remained silent. "Okay yes I am disappointed but that doesn't mean this has to be a bad thing. Now you can learn Kung Fu and we can live at the Jade Palace and go on adventures together. Maybe this was meant to be your destiny Po, just no one ever saw it", Tigress said trying to make him feel better.

"Yeah but I don't deserve it you did Oogway made a mistake I am no hero. Even when were kids you always had to come to my rescue which I thank you for but I was never the hero you were", Po said sadly.

"Po do you remember when we were in the alleyway and that gator almost stabbed me what happened?" Tigress asked.

"I saw him sneak up on you and I grabbed you by the arm and pulled you behind me and I got my paws cut and I knocked the gator out", Po answered.

"And when we were gone and that robber started a fire what did you do?" Tigress asked.

"I ran in to save a lamb mother and her child then I went after the robber and got the money back", Po answered.

"See Po you are a hero and you didn't need Kung Fu to save me or the mother and her child. You just reacted and you wound up saving me and them. Maybe that is why Oogway chose you because you were a hero this whole time", Tigress said smiling. Po looked in her eyes and knew she didn't hate him but he still felt guilty about what happened.

"Okay Ti, I will be this Dragon Warrior but I still think Oogway made a mistake. But I promise you this I will give this my best shot and if I die well at least no one could say I never tried", Po said.

"I won't let you die and I will be there to help you every step of the way", Tigress vowed smiling.

"Thanks Ti", Po said smiling.

"What are friends for?" she asked and they locked paws as they looked into each other's eyes and knew that today their destinies were forever entwined.

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