Stand Up for What's Right

Maz was going into the village alone. He had been a student of the masters for about a year now and they figured he knew enough to get out of trouble. It was when he went around that he saw Leona with a bunch of kids laughing at her. Maz's face skewed in anger. "Look at the big bad lion girl," they teased. Leona had fallen into a fruit cart and fruit was all over her. Claws out, Maz walked over to the laughing kids. You can imagine their change of attitude when they saw him behind her.

"What's going on here!" He bellowed. Leona had never heard Maz talk like that.

"N-no nothing, s- sire ," Said one of the kids, knowing he was a prince. "We were just-"

"Leaving," He finished promptly. "GO! And I don't want to see or hear you teasing this girl or any person again!" He growled to make his point clear. The kids ran away. Leona looked up at Maz, completely confused about what just happened. Maz had always acted like a child around her, but he suddenly became this big adult person that protected her. "Come on, you little squirt," Maz said in his usual tender voice as he lifted Leona in his arms like a baby. "Let's get you cleaned up." They went to Mr. Ping's shop, where the goose took good care of the lioness. Or at least tried.

"Quit squirming," Mr. Ping said. Leona fussed. She was still trying to figure out what was Maz's deal as Mr. Ping finished cleaning her and brushing her fur. "There all nice and clean," Mr. Ping said. Leona got dressed and went outside where Maz was waiting.

"Good, that's better."

"Wait, Mr. Maz, I don't understand," Leona said.

"I told you to call me Maz," Maz replied.

"Why is it that I mess around with you and I don't like you, yet you stood up for me?" Leona asked.

"Because you're my-" Maz stopped himself. He couldn't say that because it wasn't really true. "It's not good to be picked on. Plus, I know what it was like to be picked on as well."

"You? You're the prince!"

"Royalty means nothing," Maz explained. "Just because I'm a prince doesn't mean I don't go through the same things people do. You forget that I lost my parents and it was the same person that killed yours." Leona was speechless. What Maz said wasn't news to her. She just didn't know what to say. "Besides, we lions have to stick together. That's what got us through the bad things. And do you really think I was going let them bother you?" Leona suddenly hugged Maz around the waist. Maz was shocked but patted her on the head. "Does this mean you don't hate me?"

"Maybe," She said mischievously. Maz shook his head.

"Come here," Maz chortled as he picked her up and tickled her belly making her laugh through the whole shop. The two went back up the mountain and Leona went to her room. When Maz turned around, Lillia and Tigress were behind him. "AHH! Would you stop scaring me?"

"Okay, spill it, cat," Lillia bluntly said. "What's up with you and the lion girl?"

"What do you mean?"

"I was down in the village when she ran into the cart. I was about to scare off those kids when you came and scared them senseless. Then you cradle her like a baby and have her washed. This is interesting considering that she and you usually don't get along. What's up?" Lillia asked. Maz sighed.

"Okay, okay. I've... never had a sister or anyone younger than me to have as a sibling. Leona is like a little sister to me. That's why I'm so childish with her because it's like having a sister."

"Wow, I didn't think you liked her like that?" Tigress said.

"Well, by the look of how she was hugging you, I'd say you're on her okay list," Lillia smirked. Maz chuckled nervously. Suddenly, Lillia's ears perked up. "What the-" Monkey burst into the courtyard, running from a murderous panda.

"HELP!" Monkey screamed. "I said I was sorry! I didn't want to lie to him! On the bright side, you don't have to be embarrassed because everyone knows." Po's narrowed eyes widened.

"You told EVERYONE!"

"Oops," Monkey squeaked. He jumped behind a table. Po was heading for the left, but then Monkey headed for the right. This game of faking went one for a while. "Please Po, I'm sorry. You don't have to worry! This is a common thing among men."

"Yeah, but now everyone knows I'm some kind of weird peeping tom!" Po shouted.

"Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone outside of the Jade Palace," Monkey said making Po calm down a bit. "I mean, Mantis probably did but-" Po's jade eyes became a darker green with fury. He grabbed the table with both hands and split it down the middle, clearing the way to Monkey. "Oh no," Monkey cried dashing away.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU MONKEY!" Po shouted. Tigress held him back.

"Easy Po! You don't have to commit murder. That's not good for the Dragon Warrior," Tigress smirked. Po paced around thinking.

"You're right. Too many witnesses. I know, I'll poison his drink! Lillia, you know some poisons right?" Po said with a crazy evil look in his eyes.

"Um, Po... let's just take a deep breath," Tigress instructed. "Breathe deeply and hold it." Po did so. "And now exhale." You could almost see smoke coming out of Po's mouth. "Now do it again," Tigress said. Po did so slowly calming down. "There, better?"

"Yeah," Po sighed.

"Jeez Po. You look almost like a wild grizzly just now," Lillia commented. Tigress smiled at Po as he glared at the tiger. "Did I say something?"

"Nothing," Po replied.

"So I guess that you're trying to get back at Monkey for telling about the incident between you and Tigress?" Maz guessed. Po sighed in embarrassment.

"Yes," Po replied. "Can we stop talking about it?" Po asked. Lillia smiled.

"Sure, Maz, Master Shifu wanted to talk to you," Lillia continued. Maz and Lillia went off to their places while Tigress held Po's hand going to the kitchen.

"Why were you so mad?"

"He told everyone about the bathroom incident! That's like if Viper told everyone about a time you saw me naked!"

"But I have seen you naked," Tigress replied in a matter of fact kind of tone.

"WHAT! WHEN?" Tigress only smiled.

"That would be telling, wouldn't it?" Po was just left standing there with a broken and confused face. "If it's any consolation," Tigress continued with a smirk. "I liked what I saw." Po just gulped.

Continued...