Final Round

"UGH! This is too suspenseful!" Po paced back and forth, just outside the courtyard walls. Everyone was preparing for Master Tigress and Po's grand return.

"I'm sure the villagers will take your return-"

"I'm not worried about the villagers. I'm worried about my kids! I mean... Ai and Xiwang. Who am I supposed to be rooting for? I hope Xiwang doesn't hold back, but-" Tigress suddenly put an end to Po's babbling with her lips. The panda's brain stopped and his arms immediately wrapped around her. As they parted, he smiled grandly, "I missed your kisses."

"And I missed your arms around me," Tigress smiled back. "By the way... how is your um... mark?"

"Huh? OH! That-uh... that's actually part of the reason why I'm still wearing the cloak," Po chuckled nervously. "But it's been healed up a while ago. Hehe. Just... next time, please don't be so rough with me."

"Mmm. It's not my fault you're a good lover. Besides, red looks good on you," Tigress smirked. The panda blushed brightly as they walked to the courtyard. The courtyard was packed again and the arena, swept and dried clean of the rain, had the fresh smell of water and earth. Two opponents stood at either side of the arena. Ai couldn't stop smirking as she stood in front of a grinning Xiwang.

Just then, Master Tigress stepped onto the stair landing, holding her hand up. The crowd fell into a hush. "From the very beginning," Tigress called out in a loud voice, "this tournament was in honor of the Dragon Warrior who disappeared years ago. Through the pain of his disappearance, the masters of the Jade Palace hoped to immortalize him not just in stories, but in this tournament." Tigress gave a faint smile as she heard Po's gulp from behind the curtain. "But now, we have the most unexpected visitor with us. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Po Ping, the Dragon Warrior."

Po carefully walked onto the stage as the crowd went into a roar. He shyly waved his hand, grinning like a little kid thrown in front of the stage. "Po, Po, Po, Po!" The crowd chanted. Po could see some old faces crying and others ecstatic. Many pandas recognized him too. He could even see little Lei-Lei all grown up in the crowds.

Po took a long breath and shouted, "Let the tournament begin!"

Xiwang and Ai went into their stances as Po sat down next to Tigress and the old Furious Five. The panda immediately nibbled on his stubby claws. "Po? What's wrong?"

"I'm worried! Who am I supposed to root for?"

"Why not just be proud of both of them, regardless?" Shifu said more than asked. Po paused for a moment to think about the fact that those words came from Shifu.

"Yeah, you're right."

"Begin!"

Ai and Xiwang rushed and clashed their arms and feet against each other. The black panther stared into the white tiger's eyes, grunting and grinning as he pushed her back. Ai jumped back and ducked Xiwang's kick. She roared as she punched his left. He dodged it, shuffled back, and blocked her flurry of punches. One kick smashed his side. "GRahh!" Xiwang kicked Ai back and lept back, clutching his side.

Ai rolled her shoulders back, throwing off the pain. She hadn't expected the block to take that much out of her. Xiwang sped towards her again, kicking her in the chest. She grabbed his foot and tossed him to the side. Xiwang backflipped to a stop but ducked Ai's punch that sent shockwaves through the crowd.

The black panther swept Ai's feet off the ground with a kick. The tiger tumbled and rolled out of Xiwang's stomp. Jumping back up, the tiger quickly blocked another punch from the panther, feeling her foot nearing the edge. Xiwang forced her back with both hands. Losing her balance a bit, Ai's claws extended, jumped into the air, and grabbed the first thing she could that was still on the platform.

Unfortunately, that happened to be Xiwang's back.

"GRAAHH!"

Ai immediately jumped off of Xiwang and looked back with horror. Blood dripped onto the arena as Xiwang gritted his teeth and clutched his back. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay," Xiwang grunted, shedding the purple vest now torn to shreds. "It'll make a cool scar. Agruh." Ai anxiously looked at him and then the announcer duck.

"I think we should-"

"No," Xiwang grumbled, exposing his back to the open air. "You think I'm going down just because of a little scratch? Oh no, you're gonna have to try a lot harder than that. Or are you scared of breaking me?"

Ai glared. "Stop messing around. You're hurt."

"And?"

"This is serious, Xiwang."

"I've never been more serious in my life."

"It could get infected."

"Please, I know you keep your claws clean," Xiwang smirked. She did, of course.

"Grrrr, you're so stubborn."

"Takes one to know one," Xiwang smirked.

"Oh that is it!" Ai roared and lunged at him but the black panther blocked her attack. The two went on. Xiwang ducked another flying kick while striking her side. Ai shuffled out of the way, clutching her side. Panting, she gasped as Xiwang's fist aimed for her jaw. She flinched back. Jumping out of his arm range, Ai readied herself again, only to get rammed in the stomach.

"GRAAH!" The white tiger stumbled back and took a knee. She quickly got back up and readied herself. The two panted hard. Xiwang's back was killing him. It stung in the open air. The claw marks made a broken upside-down V. It made flexing his back a literal pain, like shards of a broken metal pot. His arms were getting limp and his right leg throbbed at the knee.

Ai wasn't much different. Her sides ached as did her stomach. Several times she struggled to keep whatever she had for breakfast down from that attack. Her hands and forearms pulsated from blocking the raw punches, and her lower back sent silvers of pain up her spine.

But they weren't going down. Not yet. Not without a fight.

Ai lunged forward. Xiwang held his ground. As the tiger moved in, Xiwang suddenly ducked, grabbed her leg and arm, lifted her into the air, and flung her out of the ring.

Ai fell out with a thud, crashing to the ground.

DING!

"Xiwang wins!"

"HAHAHA! Dangit Ohhhhhno! YESS!"

"Po, what are you doing?" Shifu asked with a smirk.

"I'm cheering for my apprentice and sorry for my daughter! This is hard you know!" Po remarked. The crowd went wild, erupting into applause and cheers. Ai slowly tried picking herself up, but her leg stabbed her.

"Ahh!"

"Here," Xiwang smiled, standing on the ring with an outstretched arm. "Let me help." Ai looked at his hand for a while. She smiled and grabbed onto it. The black panther lifted her up onto the ring and the two stood before the crowd, clasping and raising their hands up together in victory.

As the tournament wound down and the crowd left the arena, Ai and Xiwang stole away to the sickbay where the new Furious Five crowded around. Li gently applied the cleansing wipe to Xiwang's back. "Ah! Careful!"

Well almost gently.

"Stay still. This will only hurt for a moment," The lizard hissed.

"Knowing Li, you might as well get your grave ready," Wang smirked. Li hissed loudly. Xiwang and Ai sat on the same cot, facing each other. Ai's frown hadn't moved an inch since they got there.

Xiwang smiled, "It doesn't hurt that much. AHHHHH! Li!"

"I thought you said it didn't hurt much," the lizard smirked.

"Stop messing with him, Li," Ai mildly ordered. The lizard voicelessly mocked her while he applied the bandages around his torso. "Xiwang, I-"

"I told you, it's fine. I-"

"But if I-"

"You didn't mean to-"

"But I should've-"

"I told you it's-"

"Still, I-"

"Could you two let each other finish a sentence please!" Nu Wuya cawked. The two felines, with widened eyes, looked at the raven and then at each other and shared a shy laugh.

Just then, Po and Tigress came in. The new Furious Five bowed. "There, now it's all done. Try to sleep on your side for the first two weeks."

"Thanks." The new Furious Five wordlessly filed out of the room leaving, two tigers, a panda, and a black panther left. Xiwang rubbed the bandages around his chest.

"How do you feel, winner of the tournament?" Po grinned.

"Hehe, kinda confused... still a little in pain. Gah, Ai doesn't hold back," Xiwang chuckled.

"I said I was sorry."

"And I said you didn't need to be," Xiwang answered Ai.

"But... I am sorry, mother and father," Ai said with a bow. "I... didn't win the tournament. I... I failed you."

"Did you have fun?" Po asked.

"Huh?"

"Did you have fun?"

"I... uh... yes?"

"Then you didn't fail us at all," Po grinned widely. Tigress smiled as she knelt down.

"Ai, you've always put so much pressure on yourself. I know you did your best and I'm proud of you."

"But father-"

"Please don't call me father. Just dad or daddy is fine. I don't want you sounding like Tigress when she was younger."

The tiger swiveled her head around and glared at the panda. "And what was wrong with the way I spoke?"

"You constantly sounded like you were a stiffened mechanical stage prop without a hope in the world. Like a toy wanting to become a real girl," Po said with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Tigress glared but only scoffed at the panda's words. "Either way, don't beat yourself up too much," Po said as he walked to Xiwang's side. "I'm proud of both of you. You gave it your all." He gave his apprentice a big back slap.

"DAHH! Master Yin!"

"WHOOPS Sorry!"

Tigress shook her head with a small amused smile. Ai sighed, "I'm still sorry for hurting you like this, Xiwang."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. Heck, you two were fighting just like we fought when-"

"AHEM!" Tigress loudly cleared her throat.

"Uh... right."

"Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean?" Xiwang asked. Tigress looked at Po, cocking her head to the side.

"You've never shown him your scar?"

Po shrugged with a nervous cheesy smile. "I didn't think I needed to."

"What scar?" Xiwang asked. Po threw off his red cloak. Xiwang's eyes widened. Scratches slopping down to Po's trapezius formed an upside-down broken V just like his. "Wait, you two fought?"

"Yes, of course, uh... that was the day that Tigress and I umm...well uhh-"

"It was the day that I became pregnant with Ai," Tigress finished, glaring at a nervously chuckling panda.

Ai and Xiwang gazed at each other and then looked away. The reddish tint in their cheeks was more noticeable thanks to their black/white fur. Looking at each other for a moment in nostalgia, Po and Tigress laughed.

"Well, I think I can speak for everyone when I say you two put on a great fight. One for the ages," Po smiled. "Come on, you think you can move a bit?"

"I think so," Xiwang grunted and slowly stood up with Ai's help. "Oh, uh... thanks."

"You're welcome," Ai bashfully smiled. The black panther and white tiger walked out of the sick bay, leaving the Dragon Warrior and Grandmaster to talk.

"Hehe, and so the tale begins again. Hopefully this time without the exile," Tigress smirked, side-glancing Po.

The panda chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "You're never gonna let this go, are you?"

"Nope."

"Fair enough. I deserve it," Po sighed, kissing Tigress's forehead. He rested a hand on her belly. "You think we should tell them that you're... uh..."

"Not yet. I still want Ai to adjust to everything. Of course, it seems she's adjusting to your apprentice very well," Tigress smugly smiled at the panda's goofy grin.

"Yeah, well, I can't help that."

They looked into each other's eyes, gently clasping their hands. A tired and tried smile rested on both of them. Despite the years, they were still handsome and beautiful to each other. Tigress could never get tired of gazing at his jade eyes. They kissed each other, holding each other in their arms for what felt like a brief second. Po always opted to kiss longer; her lips were always exciting to him. They parted and looked each other in the eye, still smiling.

"I love you," Po whispered.

Tigress chuckled, resting her head against his shoulder. "I love you too."

The end