So...how will the end results go for Max and Tigress ending the rivalry?

Chapter 27: No Holding Back

Couple of minutes go by and Max was hanging around Kiba, Faith, Layla and Ryo at the Peach Tree as they were talking and Max was very anxious to see what's gonna happen with his father and Tigress and Layla could see him being so nervous and she scooted close to him and placed her hand in his shoulder for comfort and she said, "I'm sure everything's gonna be okay."

"I just hope that Tigress is in a listening mood." Max stated.

"Well, if worse comes to worse..." Kiba started, but got cut off by Ryo covering his mouth.

"If you have any sanity in you...do not say anything at all." Ryo said, growling.

Max sighed heavily and he keeps worrying about his father and he knows Tigress like the back of his head that there might be a fight between the two and he said, "I'm really worried about my dad."

"Aw, come on, Maxie...don't assume the worst. I'm sure that they'll patch things up and hopefully, bring this rivalry down to a close." Faith added.

"That's what I was gonna say." Kiba stated.

"No, you weren't, Kiba." Faith disagreed.

Max was still nervous, but he's still hopeful that it'll work out soon enough and that him and Tigress will become friends again after going through all this drama between both of them and he knows that it'll be old soon and that he's gonna be over it and Tigress won't. Not long afterwards, Layla sees Mako and Tigress walking up the Peach Tree and she stands up and meets up with them and she said, "Hello."

"Hello, Layla." Mako said, smiling.

Just then, everyone else walked up and saw Mako and Tigress coming by and they can tell that they've got some issues to resolve and as soon as Max walked up, Tigress could feel a huge sense of guilt and remorse around her and Mako asked, "Mind if we have a minute with Max?"

"Of course. Come on, guys." Layla said.

Most of them wished Max good luck as they walked off and after they were gone, Mako and Tigress came closer as all three of them sat down at the Peach Tree and Max asked, "How'd it go?"

"I think it's better if Tigress answers that question." Mako added.

Tigress didn't even know what to say to him, but Mako encouraged her to say what's in her heart and remembered what he said to her about letting out some feelings and to show Max that she's really sorry and Tigress reluctantly got closer to Max and she said, "Maximus..."

"Yes?" asked Max.

Tigress turned to him and looked at the cub straight in the eye and she said, "Listen, I know that it's gonna take some time for me to get over all the fights and the horrible things that I did to you, but I just want to let you know that none of it was ever your fault. It was mine. I...I've always been jealous of you over those years since you've been in our lives and all you've ever done was make us better people. I guess that I was afraid that you would change me and the only way to deal with it was by anger and my pride...just to protect my reputation. And each time I see you with my students, my comrades...Master Shifu, I always felt like I'm starting to lose them and I felt hurt that they paid attention to you more than me. I had thought that by snapping at everyone that it would get them back, but I learned that it'll keep their distance away from me. Maybe that's part of the reason why I've been so hard on you."

"I would never steal anyone away from you. You know that." Max stated.

"I know. But my pride thought so otherwise. You're such a good person. You're positive, extraordinary, always optimistic, happy, true to yourself, wise and you always see the good in bad things. That's something I'm not used to because all I know is anger, pain, sadness, disappointment and loneliness. I just push people away because I can't deal with everything on my own." Tigress added.

"Who said you can handle it on your own? If you have those kinds of burdens, just find someone to help you carry that load and it'll be less heavy for you." Max added.

"But I don't know who I can turn to. I'm a monster, Max. They don't have friends." Tigress stated.

"Quit calling yourself that. Would a monster succeed as a kung-fu master?" asked Mako.

Tigress knew Mako had a good point there and she has succeeded as a kung-fu master, but she still feels like it's not enough for her and she said, "But still...I'm a monster. Monsters don't need love and friendship."

"I don't like it when you punish yourself or torture yourself. It hurts to see you like this." Max added.

"I'm just being realistic. But...you have always seen my good points. I just don't know if I can see it in myself." Tigress stated.

"You are. You just have to believe in yourself and don't let anyone tell you any differently." Max stated.

Tigress could definitely see what Max is talking about and all her life, she's always focused on the negative parts of her rather than the positive because it's all she's ever known and has gotten used to and suddenly, in comes Max...breaking down those walls she placed by herself and the simplest words that Max placed in seemed to make a huge impact on her. She sighed heavily and said, "I'm sorry for everything, Max. For being so jealous towards you, treating you harshly, competing for who gets the most attention and I'm really sorry for almost killing you. I understand if you don't forgive me."

"Tigress...don't be sorry." Max added.

Tigress was a little shocked once she heard those words come out of him and she turned to him and asked, "What do you mean don't be sorry? Here I am, trying as hard as I can to apologize and now I ask for your forgiveness and you're telling me that I can't be sorry?!"

"Because there's nothing to forgive anyway. I've already forgiven out countless times before and this is no different. Why would I not forgive you?" asked Max.

"Becuase of everything I've done to you! I deserve to be yelled at or say anything horrible about me!" Tigress said, on the verge of tears.

Mako immediately calmed her down and he said, "Tigress...Max would never do that. It is not his intention of making you feel bad. He forgives you because it's what's right for him. Please...do not punish yourself."

Tigress was still tense and she still felt guilty for everything and Mako reacted by simply giving her a hug and Tigress froze for a second, but the overwhelming feeling melted her into the hug and she hugged back as well, with tears coming down on her face and Mako said, "If you were my daughter, I would help you out with whatever I can."

"And you'd be a great sister too." Max added.

Those positive words were new to Tigress, but she immediately accepted them right away and as she lets go, Max comes in to her side and hugs her as well and this time, Tigress embraced Max and she hugged him tightly and she could never let him go for a split second and when they released, Max asked, "So...are we back to being friends again?"

"You still want to be friends with me? After everything I did to you?" asked Tigress.

"Yes." Max answered.

Mako looked at Tigress for a second and he said with a smile, "Just accept it, Tigress."

Max lets out a smile and he stated, "Life's too short to be angry anyway."

Tigress sighed in response to that and she accepted it right away and both tigers smiled at each other as they declared this rivalry officially over.

The rivalry is in the can. And the reaction that the others know...stay tuned!