Fluffy Tails

The felines rubbed their muzzles with great annoyance as they lined up. "This is humiliating," the male said. "Why did we agree to this?"

"Because the others are interested in it," The female said.

"Not a good enough reason."

"Because Shifu is doing this as well."

"And why is he doing this?"

Tigress groaned. "I have no idea."

"Tai Lung, Tigress," Said the red panda. "You have to learn to accept Po's questions and inquiries as... adventures at times."

"I think you're just saying that because you think you'll win this competition," Po said as he finally came into the room. Shifu held his knowing smile. Tigress, Tai Lung, and Shifu were all gathered in the Hall of Heroes for a big competition that Po came up with. Po asked Shifu one time who he thought had the fluffiest tail out of the three and this led the red panda to commission the help of the two other felines.

"But why?"

"Come on, Tigress," Po said, "Don't you ever wonder whose tail is the fluffiest and the most comfortable?"

"It's Shifu's," Said Tai Lung and Tigress in unison. Po rolled his eyes as he watched the red panda quietly beam.

"You're saying that because you're biased. Shifu's raised both of you. So someone needs to be an unbiased judge."

"Aren't you biased as well?" Tai Lung smirked. "I mean, you could think that Tigress's tail is the best."

"Hey! I'm not the one doing this test, okay," Po grumbled, glaring at the grinning snow leopard. The two knew exactly why Po, out of all of them, would pick Tigress.

"Why would Po choose me?" Tigress asked.

"That's not the point," Master Shifu said, saving the panda the embarrassment. "The point is that Po will be tallying the score but will not be the judge."

Tai Lung and Tigress glanced at each other. "Wait, what about Monkey? And who's going to be the one judging us?"

"Monkey's tail isn't... really comfortable," Po said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not in comparison to you guys."

"How do you know that... I think I'll just stop asking questions," Tai Lung sighed, pinching the bridge of his muzzle. "I didn't get pulled from the Spirit Realm for this."

"Okay, stay here and I'll get the judges." Po went outside of the Hall of Heroes and turned the corner.

"Tell me again why we're doing this?" Tai Lung asked. "Isn't there a village being plundered or destroyed?"

"This is a harmless game, Tai Lung. Surely you don't oppose the idea of a little harmless fun," Shifu smirked. The snow leopard gave a small glare to his old master, then he looked at Tigress.

"Because Master Shifu said so," was her answer.

"Right," Tai Lung groaned. "And I should care because?"

"Your pride won't allow you to say no to any kind of competition," Shifu replied. The snow leopard growled under his breath. The red panda was right; he just hated that he was right.

Soon, the giant panda was in with the judges. The rather small judges. "Oh no," Tigress muttered. There before them were little bunny children rushing up to them with Po struggling to control them.

"It's not too late to run for it," Tai Lung whispered.

Shifu rose his eyebrow. "I would hope that the Great Tai Lung and Master Tigress would have some perseverance to meet ANY obstacle."

"You're really using this pride thing against us?" Tai Lung muttered. "Fine, I'll stay."

"I'll try my best for this... exercise, Master Shifu," Tigress sighed.

Po tried to calm the children down as much as he could. "Okay, okay, settle down!"

The kids all chatted with each other. "I can't believe we're gonna meet Master Shifu and Master Tigress! What about the bad guy? The spotty kitten? He's not bad. Mama says he's an old wash-up now."

The snow leopard grumbled under his breath while Tigress smirked at his dismay. "What's the matter? Feeling your age?" She asked.

"What's the matter? Feeling your second-rate nature?" Tai Lung growled. Tigress grumbled back.

"Hey! You two, stop it!" Po ordered with surprising firmness. "Now kids. I want you to close your eyes and you'll feel three different... uhhh things that the masters here will give you."

"Is it gonna be Kung Fu powers?" Said one kid.

"I wish! But no," Po chuckled, "It's a... secret. Just tell me which one feels the best to you. Okay? Close your eyes and no peeking until I say open them. Hey! I said no peeking."

The children giggled and finally closed their eyes.

"Now, hold out your hand but make sure you don't grab what you feel."

"Is it a Dragon Warrior dumpling?!"

"Not quite, but something like that... depending on how soft they are," Po chuckled. The panda nodded to the masters. Shifu went first. He slid his tail along the children's hands.

"OOooohhh Ahhh Heheh it tickles."

"Okay, that's the first one," Po smiled. "Here's the second one, keep your eyes closed."

Po looked at Tigress. The tiger rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe she was doing this, she couldn't believe Master Shifu was on board with it, and she couldn't believe she agreed with Tai Lung about this whole competition. Why was she doing this again?

Shaking her head, she carefully passed her tail around the kids' hands. "Oooohh! silky! It feels so smooth. Are we toothing a smooth blanket?!"

Though she'd never say it, the comments brought a smile to Tigress's face. "Alright," Po said. "Here's the third one." Po glared straight at Tai Lung, mouthing. 'Be nice' to him. The snow leopard growled and let his tail run through the kids' hands.

"OOoh! Is this a cloud? It feels like a cloud!"

"Hehe, I don't know yet," Po smiled. He smirked at the old snow leopard's face. Tai Lung had let a small grin pop up on his face at the comment but quickly hid it after seeing Po's smug look. After Tai Lung returned to his position, Po told the kids to open their eyes and come with him.

"But what were we touching?" asked the kids.

"I'll tell you later, okay?" Po smiled. The kids and panda disappeared behind the door.

Tai Lung rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I did that."

"Just be glad that it's over, Tai Lung," Shifu said. "There's no harm in participating in a little childish game."

The snow leopard glared down at the red panda but bit his growl back as he struggled to patiently say, "That's not what you said when I was growing up."

"I... I know," Shifu sighed. Tigress spun her head to Tai Lung and silently snarled. "I was much too strict on you, both of you. But... I assumed that... better late than never..."

Tigress and Tai Lung spun their heads back to the red panda with gaping eyes and slightly dropped jaws. "Master Shifu," Tigress spoke up first "Was this whole thing... for us?"

"I wasn't the best father to both of you, possibly because mine wasn't the best to me. But... I figured that Po's simple... far-fetched shenanigans might produce some kind of-"

"Weird bonding experience for us?" Tai Lung finished.

Shifu sighed but shrugged as a small easy smile came to his lips. "Or a friendly competition."

Just then, Po came back inside. "Alright, I've tallied up the score and... drum roll please!"

Silence.

"You guys are no fun," Po sighed.

"Just tell us the score so we can get this over with," Tai Lung groused.

"The winner is... all of you. It's a tie!"

"WHAT!?" Tigress, Tai Lung, and Shifu exclaimed. The three crowded around Po, looking at the paper.

"That can't be possible!" Shifu argued. "I'm a red panda for Buddha's sake."

"And why am I tied with the kitten? Her tail isn't nearly as fluffy as mine," Tai Lung grumbled.

Tigress smirked, "I'm surprised the mighty Tai Lung was bested by such a kitten."

"Watch it, you little-"

"Guys, guys, guys!" Po said, "Calm down! This is just an experiment. If the kids couldn't figure out whose tail is the softest, then it must mean all of you have incredibly soft tails." Po rose his eyebrow. "Besides, I thought you guys said this was a silly game."

The three looked at each other and cleared their own throats.

"Uhh, yes, it is," Shifu said. "Well, if there's no more... inquires, I'll be meditating." With that, the red panda left, though the others could see a small agitation in the twitch of his ear as he left.

"Well, I demand a rematch," Tai Lung muttered.

"Why?"

"Because, panda, anatomically speaking, a 'snow' leopard's tail has to be fluffier than a tiger's. Especially a Bengal tiger."

Po tilted his head and crossed his arms, eying the snow leopard steadily. "And you know this why?"

"I studied."

"And you want a rematch because...?"

"I... I don't need to give you an answer," Tai Lung snapped.

"Okay, okay, geez," Po held up his hands in defense. "No need to get your fluffy tail in a knot."

"It might not be as fluffy as we thought," Tigress simpered. The snow leopard glared down at her and crossed his arms. "But I hope that this answers your question, Po."

"It... kinda didn't, but I don't think I'll be asking any more questions. It's too dangerous with you two involved, especially in any kind of competition," Po said as he headed for the door.

"Why?" Tai Lung and Tigress both asked.

Po turned around, looked at both of them, and shrugged with a small bemused smile. "You two take after Shifu's competitive edge too much."

And with that, he left the two alone, shocked and dumbfounded.

A weird bonding experience, indeed.