Here we go for one of the final chapters of the first arc, Owl Lovers. I just wanna tie up a few loose ends and make a bittersweet ending. I hope you'll like it :)


Po and his friends had just defeated Tai Lung and restored peace upon the valley. Po was relieved that his master was alive and laid down with him before the moon pool. Po turned his head to look at the red panda laying next to him.

"Wanna go get something to eat?" he awkwardly asked while rubbing his belly.

"Uuuuh...yep."

Tai Lung sure did a number on Shifu as well as Po, his friends, and the Furious Five; dinner did sound like a good idea. A few seconds later, Po got back up and helped the red panda to get back to his feet as he seemed hurt and tired.

Shifu smiled weakly. "Thank you for saving us again, Po. You have truly earned the Dragon Warrior title and exceeded all of our expectations. I'm sorry for all the trouble the Five and I caused to you and your friends," he apologetically said for all he and his students did to Po simply for being himself.

Po nodded his head and smiled. "It' ok, Shifu. I forgive you and honestly, nothing of what you or the others did could have hurt more than every day just being me." Po got flashbacks of his time as a kid when he was 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 and continue pursuing your goal of becoming a Kung Fu master," Shifu said as the two started walking toward the kitchen.

"It's fine, Shifu. And of course, I'm staying!" Po happily said with an enthusiast smile.

Shifu was shocked that he wanted to stay after all he and the others did to him. "Wait, you are?" Shifu asked in surprise to which Po nodded. "I thought that you would want to go back to the village to your father, find a nice girl, and you know...live a normal life."

Po chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. "Nah, I wanna stay here. I can visit my dad whenever I'm not busy training. And as for the girl...well, the one I have a crush on doesn't really feel the same way, you know?" Po said somewhat sadly.

Shifu suddenly stopped him there before they could enter the kitchen. The red panda chuckled softly, earning a curious look from Po, and playfully punched his arm. "Ow! What did you do that for?!" Po asked with rubbing his arm.

"It's Tigress, isn't it?" Shifu asked with raising an eyebrow and Po's face turned red instantly. "Yup, that's obvious," Shifu said.

"W-What?! No! I-I mean there's no way...," Po nervously said and Shifu quickly cut him off by raising his paw.

"Come on, Po, I may be old but I'm no fool. The way you look at her and admire is so obvious, and not to mention the look on your face every time you see her in action."

Po sighed and his cheeks flushed again. "Fine, it's true, Master. I do have feelings for her. Actually...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 walked over to him, placing a paw on his shoulder. "I wouldn't say that, Po. You're a...what's the word you use? Awesome guy?" Shifu asked and Po nodded, glad his master used his own words. "Just give her time and maybe she'll open up to you and you'll have a chance with her."

Po was a bit surprised by what he said as he thought Shifu would put him in the Wuxi Finger Hold if he learned about the feelings he had for his daughter. "Really?!" he asked in excitement and Shifu nodded softly.

"Of course, Po. Nothing is impossible - Oogway said that, didn't he? Now let's get something to eat." The two headed into the kitchen where Po started making noodles and dumplings.


Meanwhile, the whole valley was still foggy from the effects of the Wuxi Finger Hold that Po used to defeat Tai Lung. When Po ran off to find Shifu, everyone was still happy and excited as they accepted Po as their Dragon Warrior. The Five along with Po's new friends and the whole valley bowed before Po, calling him master, and the Five knew that he and his friends were one of them now.

Everyone seemed happy...except Tigress.

While the four and Po's friends 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, beating him down simply because he wanted to see her in action. She insulted him through jealous,y venom and hatred lacing her every word, even treating him like a disgrace to Kung Fu.

The hurt expression he had on his face was pictured in her mind, causing her to feel huge guilt. What was wrong with being a little chubby? Po was a panda, after all, it was not like he could help it.

Now that her jealousy over the Dragon Warrior title was gone, she started to see what a kind-hearted, sweet guy he really was. And now, she thought his chubbiness was not disgusting but rather...adorable. But Tigress knew she had to apologize to him for what she had said and done to him. These new strange thoughts would have to wait.

It was then that Viper had noticed her saddened expression and came beside her. "What's on your mind, sister? The valley is safe again...why the sad face?" she asked with slithering up to her.

Viper could tell she was in deep turmoil unlike she had ever seen 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.

Tigress sighed heavily and turned her head to the snake with a saddened expression Viper never saw on her face before. "It's Po. I...actually feel awful for what I said to him out of jealousy, insulting him like a spoiled child just for being himself. I made fun of him and...I need to apologize," Tigress sadly stated and hung her head in shame.

Viper smiled happily as she realized her mistakes and that she was finally opening up; the snake then motioned to follow her for a much-needed walk while the others followed some distance behind. Viper spoke up while they walked toward the thousand steps.

"I am glad that you realize what you've done was wrong, sister. You indeed need to apologize to him but there is something that happened to Po in his childhood that you don't know about and should," Viper calmly said and earned a curious look from Tigress.

"What happened to him?" Tigress asked, not feeling this was going to be good from the serious look Viper was giving her.

Viper sighed sadly and began to tell the story Po told her when he got to his room after his first day of training. "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. They would then proceed to beat him mercilessly, call him cruel names, making fun of him because of his weight..."

Tigress was horrified and her heart broke as she heard this. Despite her solid heart, she began to feel water in her eyes but held it back. Her guilt only got worst after hearing this. Tigress tried to restrain herself but couldn't as she realized that she was just another bully to Po and did everything a master shouldn't have done.

"...And several times, he would be sent home to his dad, Mr. Ping, empty-handed," Viper continued. "Often in tears and bruises all over his body." This time, Tigress' heart broke and she couldn't contain herself anymore.

Her face contorted and her lips quivered sorrowfully. "Poor Po...," she mumbled. "Didn't anyone try to help him?" Tigress asked, grief lacing her words, and Viper shook her head. "W-What 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 done right, Tigress," Viper said with a small smile as Tigress felt like the worst person on earth.

"But how, Viper? How?!" Tigress asked somewhat desperately. "There's no possible way he could ever forgive me after everything I've said and how badly I've treated him!" Tigress was fighting back her tears but to no avail as a tear finally escaped her eye and rolled down onto her cheek.

"Yes there is, Tigress! Po is a nice guy and he will forgive you... You just have to ask," Viper stated with a kind smile and Tigress tried her best to prevent a sob, feeling guilty and totally ashamed.

"No there's not! I know he is very kind, but there's no way he-"

"Yes, there is! Enough! Tigress, he WILL forgive you! You just need to ask! Stop being afraid 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 made him stop crying and smile through his pain?" Viper questioned, a smile growing.

"What?"

"It was YOU, Tigress!" Viper said, almost shouting in happiness, and Tigress' eyes widened.

"M-Me?"

Viper nodded happily. "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 on his lap and tell him stories about the Furious Five and this would make him stop crying. And when he would hear about YOU, his eyes would lit up. It has been his dream since he was little to one day, meet his hero. He's VERY fond of you, Tigress," Viper finished with a smile and Tigress painfully smiled back.

"Yes...he told me two nights ago," she whispered. "...And I still treated him horribly..."

"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.

"Thank you, Viper."

"You're welcome, sister. Now I suppose I should slither back up to the palace," Viper said with slithering away.

Tigress nodded and remained behind in her thoughts. Tigress swore to herself to 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.


What do you think? Will Tigress be able to earn Po's forgiveness and become a real friend to him? Or had the damage she did to him hurt too much and he won't be able to forgive her? Let me know what you think in the reviews!