The difference between him and she
Disclaimer: Do I have to...Fine! I don't own Kung Fu Panda, though it'd be cool if I did.
A/N: I have written before, but this is my first attempt at a fanfiction. Don't know how good I am, so I'll let you be the judge of that. Also, a little warning, I'm a bit busy as it is, so I'll probably be slow to update, but hey, at least it's something :) Also, if you want me to continue I'm going to need to see at least a little some support, like in reviews or...something. Just so I know I'm not wasting my time. Yeah, now that that's out of the way, onto the story!
Italics = Thoughts
Bold=Title
Training
Po
"Awww, come on Master Shifu. I said I was sorry!"
"Quiet panda!" Said master barked back. "This is your consequence for waking up late... yet again."
"But don't you think this punishment is a little...I don't know...not fitting."
"You're right. Perhaps I should have you train with Tigress instead."
"NO!" Po input in a hurry. "I mean, now that you mention it, I don't really mind the obstacle course all that much."
"I knew you didn't."
The Dragon Warrior stepped forward, stared down the obstacle course before him, and froze. He had only tried it three times since his time his arrival to the palace, and he was still recovering from the scares and embarrassment of those attempts.
"The universe is asking too much from me! Defeat the invincible Ti Lung, easy. Stop a deranged peacock from conquering China. Fine! But now the obstacle course of doom! Stupid universe. What did I ever do to you!?"
"Come on Po! We are cheering for ya." Monkey shouted from the sidelines.
"Yeah, show that course who's boss, buddy!" Mantis encouraged.
Despite the extreme pain that Po knew he'd be facing, hearing the moral boosting words from his friends lifted his spirits. Now armed with the spirit to fight, the dragon warrior stared down into the course and began his self-pep talk.
"All right course what you got? Nothing, cause I stole it when you weren't lookin'. You think you can handle the bodacity of the Dragon Warrior. Well think again! I'm lightning. I strike so fast, you'll be like, 'ah what hit me?' And I'll be like lightening that's what, and its about to strike twice. Then you'll be like..."
"Go!" Quite exasperated by his student's foolish rant, Master Shifu decided to take the initiative to provide the "push" that Po needed to get started.
"Yuhahoooo!"
Po fell into the course unprepared but was somehow able to recover himself to properly face his old nemesis head on.
The progress in his skills were quite apparent, as he was able to adapt well to his unexpected fall and begin it like normal. The others were absolutely amazed at how well Po was doing as he was slowly able to block his way the endless swarm of wooden strikes, after wooden strike. Mantis and Monkey stared with mouths agape, unable to believe that they could very well lose the bet. Viper and Crane on the other hand were cheering their heads off, utterly exited for their friend to make it to the other side.
Tigress just stood watching with her arms crossed and an unreadable expression on her face. Truth be told, she was actually quite impressed by the progress that her comrade was exhibiting. For all of his senseless babbling and minimal training, it appeared that the dragon warrior was still able to make considerable progress after the battle with Lord Shen. An aching feeling inside of her was prompting her to be jealous of Po's progress, but surprisingly, she found that feeling to be easily overwhelmed by her pride. Not pride for herself, but for her friend. He had grown so much since his arrival in the palace, able to overcome his so many trials to reach the level he was in now. Yes, she could not help but be proud.
Tigress was so caught up in her own thoughts, that she barely noticed when the dragon warrior made it to the other side.
"Hey guys! I made it!"
"Wahooo! Way to go buddy!"
"That's our panda!"
Mantis, Monkey, and surprisingly even Master Shifu all stood staring with mouth's agape at how much better their chubby warrior had become. They really weren't expecting him to be able to make it through that easily considering his track record, but there he stood in all of his...glory.
"Hey, Monkey! Looks like like you ow me 15 almond cookies."
"*Grumble*"
"What was that? It was actually 30! Thanks for reminding me."
"Hey!"
Eventually, Shifu was able to shake off his initial shock and address Po directly.
"Well done Panda. It seems that you haven't been slacking nearly as much as you let on. Come back over and we will resume training as usual."
"No problem Master!" Po yelled back and prepared to walk around, but was stopped by Mantis' voice.
"Hey buddy! Since you did so well, why don't you go through again to come on back over."
"Yeah," Monkey added. "Shouldn't be a problem for you anymore, right?"
Overcome by confidence, Po could not help but accept the challenge. "That's right! Cause I got this course DOWN! Hold on. Be there in a se...SE...SE...ECKKKKK!"
The dragon warrior lost his footing and fell back into the course completely unprepared. Unfortunately, this time he did not quite have the mind to recover, and what followed was a repeat of the last time.
"Gyahhhhh! OUCHHH! OOHHHOOOOO! GAHAHAH!"
"Some things never change." Master Shifu muttered to herself as she watched her friend go through the torture of the course.
"Looks like you owe us those cookies back." Monkey taunted Crane with a smug grin.
"Hey, I didn't bet on this one!" Crane argued.
"Hey, this so counts!" Mantis shot back. "This is still just as much a part of his punishment."
"No way!"
"Guys!" Viper smoke trying to break them up.
"Um guys! Gyowwww! KINDA DYING HERE!" Po screamed as he was hit square on by one of the wooden warriors.
Tigress lightly shook her head at the scenes unfolding before her. With each passing scream, angry word, and useless fight that she observed, she could not but wonder to herself...
"How could they all be the strongest warriors in the land, and yet be so...thick?"
Tigress
Wood. Wood everywhere. That's all that the eye could see within the training halls of the Jade Palace. Scattered brown spickets exploding like fireworks. Po and the rest of the warriors stood watching Tigress in absolute amazement as she utterly decimated the remains of whatever obstacle course once stood before them.
It shocked Po exactly how incredible his idol really was. He had always heard rumors of her impervious Kung Fu, but seeing it up close like this, its like those exaggerated stories were lacking significant details; yet despite how godlike she appeared, he knew that even she had her limits, and considering that Tigress had been at this for a good three hours, he guess that that limit would be reached soon.
"Hey, uh, Tigress! I think the dummies have had enough." Po called out to her.
"Kiya." Said tiger did nothing to acknowledge Po's remark.
"Dude, you know there is no way Tigress is going to stop." Mantis reminded his friend.
"At least until she passes out or Master Shifu calls us." Crane added.
"But we can't just let her overdo this again." Po tried to appeal. "You remember the last time she spent this much time training."
"Hey, if you want to try and stop her, than be my guest." Monkey admonished.
"Well, I could use a little help you know."
The others took a step back and looked at Po like he was insane.
"Po, your a good friend and all, but I don't think I'm willing to die for you quite yet. At least not like this." Mantis explained.
"Come on guys. I'm serious!"
"So are we." Monkey spoke back with a blank expression on his face.
"Po, just let her have some space." Viper tried to warn.
"Yeah, Shifu isn't here to save you this time." Mantis added.
"Whatever! If you guys won't help me, then 'll just ask her myself."
Po then began to march off into the training grounds to try to get Tigress's attention.
"He's dead." Crane spoke matter-of-factly.
"Yup," Mantis agreed in the same tone. "but she is tired. Maybe she'll make it quick."
The two gave each other a quick glance before speaking simultaneously.
"Nah."
"Let's get out of here before she makes us all join her like last time. We'll be back to clean up the mess."
"Uh, boys." Viper muttered on the way out. "Stay safe Po. Tigress won't really hurt you, but still..."
Tigress herself was in such a deep trance of violence that she did not even notice Po trying to get her attention. As she continued crushing the the obstacles in front of her, Tigress increased her intensity of attacks with each passing punch.
"Why? Why am I so weak!? Always training my heart out, yet I could not make my master proud, I could not defeat Ti Lung, and I could not even save my friend!"
Tigress didn't even flinch as her fist collided with a metal spike and penetrated her flesh. She only moved her injured hand away and destroyed the wooden warrior that harbored her "aggressor."
"I cannot allow my weakness to get the best of me! I will continue to refine my skills until every error becomes non existent; for my own sake...as well as those around me."
Despite feeling absolutely exhausted, Tigress found herself increasing the intensity of her assault, barely even giving herself a chance to breathe. She crushed target after target. Her fist collided with wood, then metal, then more wood, then...a fist?
Tigress blinked in confusion when she found that her latest attack had been caught by a black and white, furry paw.
"Please don't kill me! It's just that I have been trying to get your attention for the last ten minutes so I..."
Tigress toned out the rest of Po's plea after hearing the first part. How deeply had she been into her training if she couldn't even hear her own name being called?
"and we just thought that it'd be best if..."
Finally recovering from her initial shock, Tigress removed her fist from the Dragon Warrior's grip and addressed him.
"What do you want Po?"
"Well...its just that you've been at this for hours. We just thought that it'd be a good idea to take a break, you know. Maybe take a break and grab something to eat with me and the guys." He suggested somewhat nervously.
"...go on. I will be with you shortly."
"You said that an hour ago! Come on, just..."
"I said: go ahead."
"Not without you."
The two stared each other down with narrowed eyes for several moments in a breathtaking silence before Tigress finally broke it, with a voice with even more of an edge behind it than before.
"Leave Po, unless you wish to become my training partner."
Po visibly flinched, earning a satisfied look from the Tiger. She was about to turn around to continue her training when:
"If that is what it takes to get you back."
Tigress blinked in surprise at the audacity of her comrade. He knew as well as she did that he stood no chance against her. Why was he so persistence in separating her from training? Whatever the reason, she had to keep her word.
"Very well." She addressed him, while regaining her fighting pose. "Ready?"
"Fine, but if I win you gotta take a break. Deal."
She did not respond directly to Po's question, but her nearly invisible nod was more than enough of an answer for Po. The Dragon Warrior quickly went through his inner peace dance before taking his own signature one to face his friend directly. The two stared at each other for a moment of silence before Po finally charged.
Tigress was absolutely overwhelmed by the improvements exhibited by her friend as she actually found herself struggling to hit him. She just couldn't understand it. Here she was facing the same Dragon Warrior who had would always shy away from training, who she had defeated easily at the prison, and took life as nothing but a joke; yet somehow, he was strong enough to face her. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that he was always strong enough. He was strong enough to bring peace back to the valley, to defeat Ti Lung, to protect China against Lord Shen, to face his lack of spiritual peace, and now he was strong enough to face her.
The fight did not last nearly as long as it could have. Po dodged a perfectly formed strike from Tigress before pulling in the direction she attacked, causing her to fall off balance. Po quickly capitalized on this loss of footing by attacking her with his signature belly bump. By the time she had hit the ground, Po had already placed his fist right in front of her face prompting Tigress to stare up at him in shock.
For a brief second, Po himself could not believe that he had actually won, as his eyes widened in shock as he stared down at his best friend, but that moment flew away as soon as it came. He had more important matters to look after.
"There." He slowly took his fist away from her face and continued. "Now, will you please come with us."
Tigress was at a loss of words. Despite all of her training for the last few hours, she had lost to Po of all people! The very same Panda that she easily overpowered at Chor Gom. She just could understand.
"How?" Po heard her whisper.
"Huh?"
"How are you so strong?"
Po blinked, utterly confused by what she was asking him. "Umm, what do you mean?"
"You have always been strong enough. Despite your lack of substantial training, you have always been strong enough to stop whatever threat comes our way, whatever you feel must be done. How?"
The two stared deep within each others eyes for several seemingly awkward moment before Po finally spoke.
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I guess whenever I fight for something I believe in, or someone I care about, I feel like I can face the world, you know? "
Her eyes then shifted away from her friend and two the ground she was sitting on. She had always been taught that fighting with emotions was a weakness, and there was still no doubt in her mind that it was. Emotions clouded ones judgment, as was evident when Po left Shen alive to find the answers he was looking for; but could this great weakness really be the fuel behind one's strength as well?
"I don't understand."
"Like I said, neither do I, but hey! Its a journey, and you start by taking the first step." Po then offered his hand towards her. "Please, Tigress. For my sake, as well as your own."
Tigress stared at her friend's hand in wonder. To her, if she took it, it would mean more than a simple offer of help and Po knew that. It would mean turning her back on her continuous training as her means of success. It would mean putting her trust in someone other than herself, something she had avoided ever since Shifu had taken her in.
Despite all these cons, Tigress found it within her heart to smile and take the hand anyway, much to Po's joy. He then pulled her up, and, as if he had been inside of her mind the entire time, he asked. "So, uh, what made you decide?"
She then took Po off guard by suddenly throwing herself to embrace him. After seconds of awkward silence, she whispered.
"I won't have to do it alone."
After Po was released from the initial shock, he found the mind to wrap his arms around her as well.
"No...you won't."
Well, that's that. Hopefully, it won't take too long before the next update ;)