Chapter 2: A Horrible Incident

Tigress waited by the orphanage door to see if Po would come today. For the past four months he always came whenever he could. He told Tigress that some days he had to help his dad at their noodle shop which Tigress found interesting. She always wanted to go to the village to see the noodle shop. Po made all the dishes they made sound delicious and it would make Tigress's mouth water. At the orphanage all they had to eat was tofu because it was cheap and easy to make. It wasn't that Tigress hated tofu it was okay but she really wished she could eat one of the dumplings Po always talks about. "Hey monster, where is the panda? Oh he isn't coming today too bad. Guess he wised up and saw you for what you are," sneered Danny, the duck boy. He was the same duck who called Po fat when Po first came to the orphanage.

"Just shut up and go away Danny. Po will be here he promised he would," Tigress snapped hiding her fear.

"And you believed him man you are stupid," Danny cackled and stomped off. A tear fell from her face as she thought maybe Po wouldn't be coming today. Just then the doors opened and in popped a familiar face.

"Hey Ti, sorry I am late," Po said smiling gently.

"Po, you made it!" Tigress cried happily. She pounced on him and looked down at him with a smile.

"Easy Ti, you will crush the present I brought you," Po said gently.

"You brought me a present?" Tigress said in disbelief.

"Sure get off for a second and I will show you," Po said as he hid something behind his back. Tigress did as she was told and wondered what Po would have brought her. No one ever brought her a present so this was a new experience for her. "Well remember how you said that you wanted to try one of the dumplings at my dad's shop?" Po asked her fighting a smile. Tigress just looked at him and nodded for she did remember quite well. "Well try one," Po said and revealed a dumpling in his paws. Tigress eyes widened as the aroma intoxicated her nose. She took the dumpling and took a bite. Her taste buds were singing it was the best thing she ever tasted. Way better than tofu any day of the week.

"Wow Po this is the best thing I ever tasted," Tigress said as she licked her paws clean.

"Thanks I made it myself, well I mean dad helped me but I made it," Po said rubbing the back of his head.

"You cooked this, wow Po this is amazing," Tigress exclaimed.

"Thanks oh and I brought a checkers board so we can play," Po said as he revealed the board to Tigress.

"Cool which color do you want to be red or black?" Tigress asked him.

"Uh I'll be red and you can be black," Po said as they sat down. They began to play unbeknown to them that the caregiver was watching them. She still couldn't believe the transformation that Tigress undertook in just a few short months. This panda boy had changed her before Po came here Tigress was always breaking things, angry, and growled at anyone who talked to her. But now she was out of her room and smiling a lot more. Hopefully the visitor that would be coming today could help her control her strength. The caregiver left to tend to the other children leaving Tigress and Po alone. Just then Danny and some of his goons went over to Po and Tigress. They all hated the fact that the monster was getting new toys and dumplings. Especially Danny for he hated Po most of all for when Tigress and him were playing outside one day Po literally ran into Danny. Po tried to apologize but Danny had a short fuse and wanted to make sure Po never came back to the orphanage.

"Hey look guys the little monster is playing a baby game with her fat and stupid friend," Danny said with a smirk. His goons laughed together. Tigress let out a growl but Po's gentle eyes told her it was okay and to ignore them. Tigress immediately calmed down and went back to their game. Danny was not happy that Po and Tigress were ignoring him. "I don't even know why you are even here fatty. Hanging out with a monster either you are really brave or just plain stupid," he sneered. Tigress held back in a growl as Po continued to ignore them. This really ticked Danny off. "Hey stupid I am talking to you!" he shouted. Finally Po got up and Tigress held her breath wondering what Po was going to do. Danny smiled for he finally got a reaction out of Po and was itching for a fight.

Instead Po turned to Tigress and said", "Come on Ti let's go finish this game in your room. It is much too loud in here for me to concentrate," Po said completely oblivious to Danny and his friends.

"Okay Po," Tigress said and slid down and walked with Po to her room.

"Hey monster get back here1" Danny yelled now started to get red. Po turned around and now had enough of Danny's comments.

He got right in Danny's face and said", Shut up. Tigress is no monster and the only idiots around here are you. You are so blind that you can't see how smart, fun, and sweet Tigress can be. She is a good friend and maybe if you guys would try to get to know her then you wouldn't see a monster. You would see what I already see a kind and gentle tiger." Tigress fought back a tear for only Po would say something that nice about her. Then Po smiled back at Tigress and took her paw and walked down the hall. Now Danny was beyond ticked no one talked to him like that. He picked up a chair and aimed it at Tigress. Then before his friends could stop him, he threw it straight at Tigress. Everything seemed to slow down as Po saw the chair coming and his eyes widened with fear. "Tigress, watch out!" Po yelled and pushed her out of the way. Tigress watched in horror as the chair smashed into Po's head and causing him to flip over and land on his back.

"Po!" Tigress yelled as she rushed to his side. Blood was on his head and he was knocked out. Tigress body trembled as she glared at Danny with such hatred.

"Oh is the kind and gentle tiger going to rip me apart?" Danny asked in a mocking tone. Tigress wanted too but if she did then everything Po said about her would be wrong. But she just couldn't let them get away with what they did to Po.

"Oh my goodness what happened?" the caregiver asked.

"It was Tigress mam; she threw a chair at poor Po because he was bugging her. We all tried to stop her but she was too strong," Danny said with fake tears. The others nodded their heads as the caregiver stared at Tigress in disbelief.

"Oh really that is not what I saw," a deep voice said. Out of the shadows came an elderly red panda with gray fur and a white beard. He was about the same size as Tigress maybe a few inches shorter and he wore a red robe and carried a staff. "From what I seen you were the one who threw the chair didn't you?" the elderly red panda said staring down at Danny. Danny was about to deny everything but the look the red panda was giving him made him confess. Danny was sent to his room without supper along with his friends for lying. The red panda walked over to Po and Tigress. Tigress shielded Po from his view scared that Po would get hurt again. "He needs help we must take him to a healer at once," the red panda said.

"You are right Master Shifu," the caregiver said bowing to him. A healer was called as quickly as possible and Po was led to an empty room and Tigress stayed by his side angry that this happened to him because he was trying to protect her.

"Have no fear um Tigress is it? Your friend will be just fine," Shifu said as he tried to comfort her by placing a paw on her shoulder.

"This was my fault, Po got hurt trying to protect me," Tigress growled.

"Yes, he is a true friend and I know a way for you to be able to protect him," Shifu said.

"How?" Tigress asked looking up at him.

"Kung Fu may be about fighting but a good master only uses it to defend people they love or who need protecting. If you knew Kung Fu that chair would have never hit Po at all," Shifu assured. "But first you must control your strength and if you want I will teach you Kung Fu so this won't happen again," Shifu promised. Tigress looked at Po and gave Shifu a determined look and bowed to him. "Good your training begins tomorrow," Shifu said and bowed to her and silently left the room. Looking back at Po a tear fell from her face.

"I am so sorry Po; I vow to become a great Kung Fu Master so no one will ever hurt you like this again. You always saw me as a friend and never a monster and for your kindness this is your reward," Tigress growled as hot tears fell from her face. Po began to stir as he held her paw.

"Tigress, don't let vengeance control you. You are better than that just remember I will protect you and you will protect me and we will protect each other," Po said his voice just above a whisper.

"I promise Po," Tigress said as the angry feeling left her and she was just happy to see Po was safe. Then Po feel back asleep and Tigress slept by his side until his dad came and took him home. On that fateful day both Po and Tigress's lives were changed forever.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.