My 20th chapter.

IMPORTANT!
I've write this chapter with tears in my eyes. I was listening to some music and as one of my favorite songs appeared, I was nearly at the end to write
this chapter. Then it happened: I suddenly got goosebumps. Tears in my eyes, as I was writing the monologue of Tigress at the end of this chapter.
I was so surprised how I felt, that it was nearly overwhelming me. I have to tell everyone. This are my feelings! I don't care if someone dislike this chapter.
This is MY chapter. I have to tell everyone. When you start to read and listen to this music, after the sentence °she clearly imagined° (last paragraph).
You maybe will be able to recognize what I mean. I hope you will be able to feel what I felt. This was an experience. Sorry if someone is misunderstanding
me, but I just need to share this. This was in me ...

The song I mentioned was:
"River Flows in You" by Yiruma.
The best modern composer of the world.
(search on youtube for twilight)
my Notebook is full with emotional music,
Maybe this effected my perception.

I do not own Kung fu Panda. © Dreamworks

I own some of the OC, maybe some connection between other stories possible.

A secret

Viper slithered next to Tigress. Tigress was not very excited to not be alone. She wanted to think.
So she decided to get rid of her, to be alone again.

Tigress: "Didn't you have to train?"

Viper: "I am training."

This was confusing. Tigress looked to the serpent. She did not know how react to Viper's reply. Viper
was very focused. Right after Viper watched Po hug Tigress, she looked forward to meet
with Tigress in private. She thought about this situation and needed to know everything about their
feelings. She already knew about Po, because he told her, in a way, what he feels.

Viper: "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be training as well?"

Tigress was not amused. She did not want to talk about such nonsense. Her mind was full of different subjects.

Tigress: "I need to be alone, meditating."

Viper: "Are you sure?"

Tigress: "Yes. I need to find answers. Alone."

Viper: "But we are two minds. Would it not be easier, if we share?"

Tigress looked at her. She was curious, but what should she know more than Tigress already knew?
She had problems, and she didn't know what to do. It was difficult, to get some ideas about that.
To simply talk about what was going on, would help her, but she did not want to at the moment. Even if Viper was a close
friend, she was not able to talk seriously with her. So she turned to look her in the face. She tried to look angry.

Viper: "Trying to hide again. Huh?"

Tigress thought: To hide? I always wanted to hide. Everyone have to respect me.
I want respect and to show that I am strong. But why should I change. This is me right?
This was my personality. Really ... only the Dragon Warrior knew, how I was, when I am
not hiding behind my shield of anger, stubbornness and carelessness.

Viper: "You know. Everyone thinks you are the strongest of the furious five."

Tigress didn't expect that. Was she mind reading. What did this serpent thought about her?

Tigress: "I am the strongest!"

Viper: "Are you sure?"

How dare of you? Tigress thought. But suddenly she remembered, that she already thought about herself,
that she is not the strongest. But she could not show some kinds of this to Viper. Viper is a girl, and a kind
one. But she was not Po.

Viper: "I mean. Hiding is not an option for a brave warrior."

Tigress knew, she was hiding. But that someone else than Po or Master Shifu was recognizing it, was very disappointing.

Tigress: "I don't hide anything!"

Viper tried to watch. She recognized the seconds of thinking from Tigress. She was not able to reach her, but she could try.

Viper: "If you say, so."

Tigress: "I mean it." and she snarled. But it was not anger. She just wanted to show Viper, that she did not
want to talk with her. But Viper had to be confident. She had to watch over the scene. Someone who was not
able to simply talk about something, was afraid of something. Someone who shows anger, although she isn't
upset, she was using it to hide something.

She simply read one scroll, and already knew about Tigress, and how she could manage to reach her.
For Tigress surprising, Viper looked her in the eyes. Just in the eyes. And like Viper thought, Tigress was
the first who turned her head. She was hiding. And she was afraid. Viper was right.

Viper: "You know. I don't want that you feel uncomfortable by my presence."

Tigress: "I don't feel uncomfortable. I just don't like it. Let me be alone."

Viper: "And you really want to be alone?"

Tigress: "Right now. Yes, now I want to be alone!"

Viper recognized that she said now...twice. That meant, that this was her feelings at the moment.
She wanted to figure something important out. So she asked about that.

Viper: "And what is in general?"

Tigress was confused. She did not knew about Viper's personal training, although she was her sparring partner right now.

Tigress: "General?"

Viper: "You mentioned you want to be alone ... now ... I mean, do you want to be alone all the time?"

Tigress: "What do you want to hear?"

Viper: "Nothing ... I just want, that you recognize what you really want. I think you are confused."

This was exactly what Tigress's problem was, she didn't know what she wanted. Her mind told her one thing, and
her heart another. This was a very strange feeling for her, the argument between her mind and heart. But Viper
was not the person, she wanted to share.

Viper: "Who are you, Tigress?"

Who she was? She was Tigress. Only Tigress. Nothing else. Why did Viper asked such a stupid question.

Tigress: "I am Tigress!"

Viper: "I mean, what do you think. Po knows, who he is, because he choose to be himself. But what is with you?

Tigress remembered what Po told. He had choose, to be Po and found peace. And this was one of the reasons,
why she loved him. But Viper was right. What was Tigress? But Tigress did not want that kind of thinking.
This was strange for her. She did not knew, who she was. So she tried to hide again.

Tigress: "Do you want me to hurt you?"

Viper: "Hiding again?"

Tigress: "Stop asking stupid questions!", as she suddenly got up and walked near the tree. Viper sat on the bench.
she thought about this. She wanted to go further, but Tigress already wanted to flee. She had to be careful about
what she said next. But Tigress just went near the tree and didn't wanted to run away. She did not wanted to go,
so Tigress wanted to finally know, Viper thought.

Tigress thought the same. Viper already mentioned several times that Tigress is hiding everything. If she would run,
it would be obvious. She would show a weakness. She had to be strong because her nightmare was to show weakness.

Viper: "You know, you are the strongest of ours, physically. But did you ever recognized, that fleeing is weak?
Did you know, to be brave, and just stay, when something strange happened is stronger than the strength of
your body."

Tigress still stood next to the tree. Viper said, what she thought. Fleeing was weak. But why did she wanted to flee
from this serpent? What is my problem? I am not hurt. Viper did nothing ridiculous. Why did I not want to hear anything
of this. I always want to be strong. But now she told me that I was weak, in a way. Is this bothering me? Why don't I want
to listen to what she has to say? Why do I not want to simply have some smalltalk with her. It is the subject!

Tigress: "Viper. You are a good friend, but I don't want that you talk with me in such a strange way."

Viper looked at Tigress. Viper was not talking with her in a strange way. It was normal talking. She did nothing
strange. But for Tigress, it was strange. Another fact, Viper recognized.

Viper: "Strange? Do you think to talk about you is strange? You did not know, who you are, and I want that
you recognize it. This is not strange!"

Tigress heard that. Viper was right, She thought, that any talking of her was strange. She did not want to
know what others thought about her. She did not want, to know about herself. But why, was the
question. Maybe this kindly Snake was responsible, that she felt bad right now. She did not focused on a
kindly bear in her room anymore. She was focused on herself. How could she self manage all that. How
selfish, was her thinking.

Tigress: "You are asking odd questions."

Viper: "hm ... sorry for that. I am just curious. But if you don't want to talk about you. Why didn't we talk about me?"

Tigress: "About you?"

Viper: "Yes. Please, tell me what you think about me. And then, I tell you, what I think about you. But you have to promise, to stay."

Tigress: "Why should I not stay?"

Viper: "Look at you. You already leaved this bench to stand away from me. You're fleeing right now. You are hiding
your thoughts. You don't want to know about yourself. I'm just afraid, that you think this is the only option and I have
to tell you, no. This is just the easiest decision."

That was true. She already wanted to flee. Viper was right. But she simply did not wanted to hear about herself. But
She was strong, wasn't she?
She was courageous, wasn't she?
She was confident, wasn't she?
For the first time in her life, she recognized, that she doubted herself. And she knew, that she always did that.
She was a coward. She was not the person, she wanted to be. She was different. And she knew, that only one
person was responsible for that. All this confusion started with the appearance of the Dragon Warrior. She always was
an actor. Po changed her way of thinking. There was someone else in Tigress. And she always knew. She was Tigress, the
stubborn, and recognized, that her former self, she still showed, was not as strong, brave and confident at it seemed
to be.

Tigress: "erm ... Viper, you're a friend ... nothing else. But don't tell me what you think about me."

Viper saw her moving. She was thinking. Her eyes were glowing. It was not anger. Viper saw it. Tigress was not as
confident, as she thought, and Viper recognized it.

Viper: "Is it so difficult? Are you scared about what others could think about you? Are you afraid, that you're not the
person, you want to be? Or better, are you scared to lose your mask?"

A mask. That was it. She always wore a mask. And was only able in the presence of Po to take it off.

Tigress: "I am never scared about something."

Viper: "But you was scared once about something very important."

Tigress: "What?"

Viper: "I can remember, when you hug a bear the first time, you was scared that he could be hurt. It was a prison,
were you took off your mask the first time."

Suddenly Tigress remembered the moment. Suddenly she recognized that all her thoughts were once focused on Po,
and then the emotions were flying into her heart.

Viper: "If you don't want me to tell what I think. Then please, tell me, what you think about yourself. Who are you?"

Tigress: "I am selfish." did she really said that? Yes. Tigress was serious. Viper did it. She reached her. She was able to talk.

Viper: "And?"

Tigress: "Emotionless"

Viper did it: "And?"

Tigress started to shout. It was real anger. She needed to say it. What she thought about herself. Right in front of Viper.
Not Po. Po already knew.

Tigress: "I am WEAK!"

Viper was glad to hear that. She knew, that Tigress thought the difference when she said, she was strong. It was her job
now, to tell her, that she was.

Viper: "Finally. You recognized it."

Tigress was free. She did not wanted to show it, but finally she said it. But it was okay. It was okay even in front of Viper.
Taking of her mask in front of someone else than Po. She was confused. But she was glad. And showed some kind of
happiness, to ask her friend Viper, to help her hiding.

Tigress: "Sorry ... please promise to keep everything what we are talking about as a secret. This is strange."

Viper: "I am your friend. Of course I promise."

Tigress: "Thank you."

Viper: "So, if you're able to speak now, would you come back to the bench."

Tigress had nothing to lose anymore. Viper broke her reserve. She seriously went to sit next to her.

Tigress: "Sorry for being mad."

Viper: "No harm done. So ... can we talk now?"

Tigress: "If it is the right subject."

Viper: "You are the subject, and after you already said, what you are afraid of, I want you to tell the truth of yourself."

Tigress: "I was not afraid of something."

Viper: "Please, stop being so stubborn. I know that you was afraid what others think about you."

Tigress: "And why should I?"

Viper: "Because you was scared, that they tell you what you currently said."

Tigress: "What?"

Viper: "You think you are selfish, emotionless and weak. And to hear something like that from another person,
would be like a confirmation of your own thinkings. So you wanted to hide or flee."

What is Viper doing? Did she analyzed me? I never thought about such things, but like Viper is telling me now, everything make sense.
I want to tell her, like I would tell Po, but this was such an odd idea ... I wanted to stay. I wanted to share. But I don't know how?

Tigress: "I ... erm ... no!"

Viper: "You lie!"

Tigress: "What?"

Viper: "Tigress. I always watched you. You are our leader. You was always the strong and confident person.
Why do you doubt yourself so much? Is it really so difficult to recognize the facts?"

Tigress: "What facts?"

Viper: "That you ARE the strongest and bravest warrior of us. Look at you. Do I have, as a real friend, the task to tell you,
what you should already know."

Tigress: "I don't know anything!"

Viper: "So, do I have to make examples? You train more than anyone else. If someone talks about you, all mention your strength.
You are not weak, physically."

Tigress: "What do you mean with physically?"

Viper: "That you are weak, in a special way."

That was confusing for Tigress. To be strong was her intention. But she always thought, that she isn't strong enough.

Tigress: "Please...", another please of Tigress. Viper was proud of herself to really reach her heart.

Tigress: "Tell me the truth. What do you mean?"

Viper: "I don't know the truth. I just know the reason, why you think you are weak. You know the truth by yourself. You have to tell me."

Tigress: "But I don't ... tell me, what is my problem?"

Tigress said, she had a problem. This was one step.

Viper: "You have inferiority feelings. They are the reason, why you want to hide ... You think you are less worthy than
anyone other. So you try to show everyone, that you aren't."

Tigress listen to her. She was right. She always felt, that she never did enough. Critique was brutal for her.

Viper: "But I have to tell you. You are not. We all know you, and we are all proud of being your friend. I have to tell you."

What could Viper tell her? Her confidence was destroyed. Not because of Viper, because of her knowledge.

Tigress: "What will you tell me? I am selfish, weak, emotionless, and a hard core."

Viper: "You can't be serious?"

Tigress: "I am ... I mean ... My whole life, people were hating me. In the orphanage, or anywhere else, everyone was
scared because of me. Not even Master Shifu showed me that he cared about me. Never ... I just need, to be strong.
I can only care about myself because I am a selfish bitch."

Viper heard that. She could not believe her. This giant cat was destroyed. For such a long time. This was cruel.

Viper: "But I know better."

Tigress: "No you don't ... let me alone please."

Viper: "Not again! You are in a crisis. I have to tell you."

Viper did not knew about all of that. She recognized, how deep she reached Tigress. She was surprised about everything.
She did not knew, what she could tell her. She wanted to console her.

Viper: "We all care about you."

Tigress: "Shut up!"

Viper: "Tigress (sigh) ... you are not, what you think of you. Everyone of your friends care for you. I know, Master Shifu
loves you, but he is just not able to show it like another Master."

Tigress: "Like I ... I am not even able to hide."

Tigress turned away from Viper. She remained on the bench, but did not want to look her into the eyes.

Viper: "What is with the things you do. You are our leader. You always shown that you are strong and courageous.
Remember the prison.", always this prison. The first time the unhuggable hugged someone. " just remember how you
was able to show °him° that you care. "him, he was responsible that Tigress was able to recognize that she was able
to feel. Always this Panda.

Tigress: "I know everything of that. But this is ... strange."

Viper: "Tigress. You was never weak, so please stop to telling yourself that you are. You never was emotionless.
I remember since Po reached into our life, I've saw several times that you cared. You cared so much. Look into your
heart. You know, that you do it. You are able to care."

Tigress: "What does it matter if I am able to care? This is only confusing. Po is just responsible for my headaches and my emotions.
I want to be emotionless again."

Viper heard that. This was enough. She got angry. First, she just wanted to talk a little bit with her. But this confusing cat
needed something like a wake up call.

Viper: "What? What is your problem. I've saw it. With my eyes! I've watched you hugging our Dragon Warrior.
I saw your reaction in the hotel. I recognized how you reacted when we were coming home and Mantis made his joke.
I am not blind. You not only care. You have to feel the best emotion possible for him. I know Tigress. YOU LOVE HIM!"

Tigress was stunned. How could Viper know? What did she said? She knew that I love him? How could she? I did not even really
knew myself, that I love him. I've first recognized it, last night. My nightmare ... but she knew this longer. How? Tigress thought

Tigress: "I ... don't know."

Viper: "Look at you ... I never saw so much potential between two people. But you want to hide. Open your eyes. I beg you. For him."

Tigress: "For him? But ... he already told me, that he hates me."

Viper didn't believed it. She also watched Po. And she never thought, that he could say something like that.

Viper: "But he mentioned something so different."

Tigress: "He mentioned something?"

Viper: "Yes ...", Viper already wanted to tell her, what Po told her. This could be the moment, to rescue this destroyed woman.
But Viper knew, the Dragon Warrior was the only one who would be able to rescue her. But Viper wanted to make this step.

Viper: "I remember, when we were first talking about our family. I've asked him how he felt for you, because he already said that he
loves everyone else. Than he told me, what he thought. And I think you have to know. Because I know, you are the only one,
who needs this."

Tigress got curious. But what did this serpent want? First, Viper managed, that Tigress was able to talk with her, and to understand
herself. And now she was talking about her and Po. When did Viper get wise?

Viper: "You're two different species.", the old problem again, "he said, with this words, he is a big fat Panda, and you are the most
gorgeous creature on earth." that was shocking for Tigress, "he said, that if he would try, he would fail you...and he did not want
to lose his soul-mate ... he wanted to have a sister, who still cares, as a once loved." This words were in Vipers head. She needed
to tell her. This whole discussion was been held because she wanted to tell Tigress this little fact. It was like a message of Po.
It was her personal mission, to deliver it. This two belonged together. But first Tigress needed to know about this. She needed
to know, that Po was caring for her in an incredible way.

Viper: "Po not only cares for you more than possible. He loves you. And you love him ...
remember that, when you will take any decisions.", as suddenly Viper jumped of the bench.

Tigress was still confused and shocked, as the serpent slowly started to move away.

Tigress: "Please ... stay."

Viper: "I thought you wanna be alone? I will do you this favor, and go."

Tigress: "But ..."

Viper: "You already know about my thinkings. And you know about your own. I am not able to talk with you. I seriously think,
you have to talk with someone else to solve your problems. You need to know about yourself, and only one person is able to
reach this point. And this is not me. You will only be able to talk with Po about that. You know, I am just your sister-"

And Tigress recognized it. She wanted to interrupt Viper. She needed to tell it.

Tigress: "-and he is my soul-mate."

Viper slowly disappeared.

Tigress: "Thank you ... Sister."

Tigress was alone. Her mind was full. So many impressions because of this little talking. Slowly her thinkings got clearer.
Viper was right. She had to make a decision. And it was not Po, who had the choice.

She clearly imagined about herself. She always wanted to be strong. It was her personality to be the strong and serious one.
But she needed other times, too. She was glad, that there was her family. Her sister. She would never change her behavior
in front of others. She just promised herself, to talk with her family, when she need to. And to talk with Po. This was so important
for her.

She knew now, that hiding and fleeing was weak. She always thought she is weak, and Viper told her the same.
But besides her weakness, she was able to hide. She wanted to hide. It was still bothering her, what people could
think about her. She needed something like respect. It was her personal goal. She can't change it.

But still, the biggest confusion was her emotions. Viper told her, that the Dragon Warrior, her Po, seriously would prefer
to love her secretly, than trying and failing her. He was a Golden heart. He cared so much about others, that his own
happiness was irrelevant. She loved him more, because she knew now, that he shared this feelings. That he was
able to love her.

But it was not possible. Po tried to end things, which still not began yet. Although Tigress knew, that something was
beginning. She remembered his duties. She remembered that she had to let him go. And Po acted with this stupidness,
because of a promise he gave her. He always wanted to protect her. This time, he wanted to protect her from himself.
She felt her heart beat.

She was full of incredible feelings when she thought about this. It was not only warm in her heart, her whole body
reached this passion. She loved him, and this love increased every second. To know, how much her Po was caring for her.

She had to make a decision. Would she try, or would she not. She looked to the golden heart. And how he would sacrifice
his own happiness because of her. So, she decided, to do the same like he did. She had to sacrifice her own happiness.
She would love him. Every time. She would prefer to be close to him. She would do everything for him. She would even look
away, if the time of Po's duties would come. She would love him. Secretly. Like he already loved her. It just doesn't matter,
what will happen. And if he has to love another one. And if it was not possible to be together. And if she had to watch, how
her beloved Panda has to go a different way. She would always care. She would always love. She was not able to not do it.

She needed to tell him. She needed to say, that she know about his duties, and they have to focus. She needed to stop things,
before they start. She needed to end this ... and begin something secretly. It was just something new, she had to hide.
But she loves him such as much, that she had no choice, to help him with his duties. Even if this means, that she will not be happy.
She also knew that he would not be happy with this decision either. But this relationship, needed to be sacrifice of both of them.
She just cared, like he cared. She could imagine, that it never would be possible if they try, to really love each other.
They needed to care. They needed to love. They would always knew about their love. But it had to be...

A SECRET!