The True Life of Po

You're probably wondering how anyone can remember all these things precise enough to write every single thing. I noticed that too, and I've deduced that Demi gave me another power: Expanded memory. Anyways, after yesterday, Po, Krystal, and I tried to explain to the others that Nung-Ha was a part of Po's history that he nor anyone else wanted to dive into. It was just something that they had to accept of Po and not bring up. Well, I thought that everyone would do that. I was wrong in Tigress's case. "For the last time, Tigress, stop asking me. Don't you have some customers to attend to?" I said after four days of Tigress's pestering. Tigress was in Mr. Ping's shop working. We also told Mr. Ping not to tell. Po was in the kitchen but couldn't hear what we were talking about.

"I just want to know," Tigress came back.

"I know you want to know, but you're not gonna know," I smiled at her pouting face. "Tigress, it's a personal thing that Po wants to keep secret. If I remember correctly, Po is also keeping a secret that you have with you and-"

"Okay, okay," she said shutting my mouth with her hand. "I get it, but I want to know so I can help Po."

"Right now, you can help Po by cleaning table seven. The customer just threw up. Hey, you haven't been cooking have you," I smirked. She glared and growled at me as she went to her work. I enjoyed five minutes of peace before she was at my table again.

"Okay, I ask Mr. Ping to give me the rest of the day off. Now tell me," Tigress pursued.

"Ugh," I groaned. I walked out of the shop with Tigress on my tail as we went to the Jade Palace.

"Please tell me," Tigress stopped me, growling a bit.

"Threatening me is not going to work," I said. "Tigress, you're asking me to betray Po's trust. That's if I were to betray you. No. Why can't you just get the story from Po?"

"Because he would never tell me," Tigress replied.

"Do you know that for a fact?"

"Well, no... but the likelihood of him telling me is slim. Plus, I don't want to force it out of him."

"Don't you think he'll feel hurt if I told you," I argued. Tigress thought about it.

"You're right. I can't know."

"Then don't ask me."

"But I want to know."

"Then ask me."

"But I-"

"You see the vicious cycle you're in, right," I chuckled. "Just leave it alone, Tigress. It's a part of Po's history that he doesn't want to share."

"But I want to help him," Tigress said.

"Why," I asked.

"Because... he's always helped me," She whispered.

"I know, but this is something that you're either going to have to ask Po, or find someone to tell you. Until that, you're on your own." With that, I disappeared into my house. "Oy, I have to start walking up those stairs. I'm starting to gain some weight I think," I said to myself. I went into the house, expecting to find Krystal, but I couldn't find her. However, she could find me. The tigress pounced on me from the ceiling, tackling me from above. "Ah, there you are," I laughed. "Can't say that I haven't missed this."

"You're saying you like me pouncing on you," Krystal teased.

"A little, you little tyke," I laughed as I tickled her near her neck. She lightly chuckled as she calmed down. I smiled as I looked her in the eyes. She really was beautiful. Most people seem ordinary when they're up close. Krystal was different. I might be saying that because of what happened next. Neither of us realized that we were slowly closing the gap between our faces. Before I realized it, I was kissing her on the lips. I... don't want to get into much detail. It's... a marriage thing. We didn't stop until Lu and Crane came through the door, seeing us on the floor. There was an awkward silence.

"We'll just be outside," Crane said shutting the door. Krystal immediately jumped off of me. We just stood there awkwardly looking at each other.

"Sorry," Krystal whispered.

"No need. It's... expected of... married couples, right," I reasoned.

"Right," Krystal replied. "We better get to Crane and Lu."

"Yeah, but Tigress's right," I said. Krystal looked at me with a quizzical look. "I really need to find a lock for that door." Krystal giggled. We went outside to see the two birds waiting for us. "Now, aside from what you just saw, what's new?"

"Um... Nung-Ha," Crane more asked than stated. I rolled my eyes.

"I told you guys, I'm not talking. You have more luck getting it from Po than me," I said. "And while you're at it, tell Tigress that she's not getting it from me!" And I went back inside the house. I wrote some in my journal. I was coming to the last part before Krystal stormed in.

"Do not write about what just happened," She said in a billowing smoke of threatening rage.

"Oh come on, was I that bad," I joked. Krystal looked away embarrassed.

"No, you weren't. I just don't want people to know about... how it happened," Krystal said.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Demi won't publish this thing," I replied. That seemed to settle her. It was only later when we got back that we both decided to publish the thing. Just then, Po came into the house. "At least knock!"

"Sorry, I just want to talk to you guys about... Nung-Ha," Po said. Krystal and I looked at each other.

"What about it," Krystal asked.

"I know that everyone's been asking you for a while about it," Po said. It was true to a certain extent. Tigress had managed to ask Lu and Crane today. But that was just today. Two days ago, she convinced Viper, Monkey, Mantis, Sarah who was still here in the village, Master Shifu, Zan, Ai, and even Ru to ask us.

"Not everyone. Just Tigress manipulating everyone. It's getting hard to keep this secret, Po," I said.

"I know, which is why I want you to tell them," Po said. Krystal and I were confused.

"Why do you want us to tell them," I asked.

"Because... I just can't bear to look them in the eye. I didn't tell them because... I didn't want them to be ashamed of me."

"They're not going to be ashamed of you," Krystal replied. "They're probably going to be ashamed of themselves."

"Which makes it all the worse," Po said. "Which is why I want you to tell them. Please." I eyed Po carefully.

"Which action figure is your favorite," I questioned.

"Tigress," Po responded.

"Who messed up when Master Yao was let out, you or Shifu?"

"Shifu."

"Okay, so you're not Tigress in disguise," I murmured. Po stood back up.

"I'll be at the Sapling if you need me," He said, exiting the door.

"So... the truth comes out," Krystal sighed.

"Let's go and get this over with," I said.

I had all of them sit in the barrack's kitchen. I needed to make sure they were sitting for this legend. "You're probably wondering about the legend of Nung-Ha and how he's associated with Po," I started. "Let me rephrase that. Tigress has probably made you interested in the legend." I eyed Tigress's scowl. "Anyways, it doesn't start out pretty."

"We want to know in order to help Po," Viper said sweetly. I smiled.

"I know, but hear the story first," I said. They all became quiet. "Po's childhood wasn't the most... ideal. He was picked on a lot because of his weight and other things. However, he had a kind sweet personality. He would often help senior citizens, babysit children of homeless people, and do other acts of kindness under this oppression he was suffering. He was about sixteen or seventeen when there was a dance festival down in the village, and he managed to get the prettiest girl to go out with him. He went there with his best robes. However, when he got there, the girl was dancing with someone else, her supposed ex-boyfriend. She told him straight to his face that she just went out with Po to make her boyfriend jealous. Almost everyone laughed at him. Po finally decided to go back home. On the way, it started to rain and storm. Mud kicked up onto his suit as a fast-moving cart dashed by. Then some bandits beat him up and threw him in the garbage."

"That's horrible," Song said.

"It got worse. When Po came back, he didn't smile, he didn't laugh, he was an empty walking person. This was Nung-Ha. He was emotionless, cold, and empty. He showed no amount of affection or love. He didn't eat, he didn't sleep well. It was terrible. Because he didn't eat much, he lost a lot of weight, near to a skeleton. Oh, but the bullies didn't pick on him anymore. He would fight and fight back hard. He would sometimes nearly kill the people. The children use to be laughing with Po. Now, they were only extensions of Po's depression. All the ladies started to ask him out because he lost weight, but he would coldly reject them. Even the girl that dumped him at the dance festival was rejected and had to go to prison because she couldn't accept being rejected by the panda."

"Why jail," Monkey asked.

"She started to become reckless and went into denial," I said. "Anyways, you get the picture. He snapped. For two weeks this went on."

"What stopped it," Master Shifu asked.

"I don't know. One day, Po was just back to his regular self. But the village treated him a lot better after that. Many people simply don't talk about Nung-Ha because they're afraid that he will return. There are some that still pick on Po, but the village does a great job now of protecting and standing up for him because they know what he's like when he's angry."

"Why wouldn't he tell us," Viper asked.

"Because of how we were when he first came here," Tigress said solemnly. I sighed.

"And that's why he didn't want to tell you guys. Because he didn't want you guys to feel bad about it."

"But we weren't any different from the people who picked on him," Viper said sadly.

"Look, obviously, Po doesn't want you guys feeling bad for him. So do him a favor and stop acting so ashamed. You didn't know. You've already asked Po for forgiveness and you don't need to feel bad about it because you didn't cause it," I said very bluntly. "Listen, Po cares about you guys too much to see you guys down like this."

"I guess you're right. Thank you for telling us, Master Lion. We'll be sure not to mention about it anymore," Shifu said. I looked at Tigress, but she was gone. I sighed.

"And now if you'll excuse me, I have to go find a tiger," I groaned, disappearing to the Training Hall. Tigress wasn't there. I looked around the whole palace grounds. I eventually ended up where Po was. "Hey."

"How did they take it," Po asked.

"Pretty well. They started to feel guilty but I told them to suck the mess up."

"You told it to them that bluntly," Po said surprised.

"Of course not. What I'm really here for is to find Tigress," I said. Po looked at me with worry.

"Where is she?"

"She left when I finished telling them the story of Nung-Ha. Now I can't find her."

"Why don't you try to sense her," Po suggested. I facepalmed myself. "You didn't think of that?"

"Shut it you," I retorted. I sensed her at the top of the steps of the Jade Palace. I could also sense Song with her. "Okay, she's with Song." Po was about to get up, but I stopped him. "Don't worry, Tigress won't hurt Song. Not now," I said with a smile. "Let everyone heal for a while. It's a lot to take in." Po nodded.

"Thanks, Lion," Po said.

to be continued.