The Belly

Po looked in the mirror. "Hmmm," He grumbled to himself, picking up the pudgy gut that he had and dropping it to let it jiggle.

"Ugh, I shouldn't feel like this," Po muttered. Of course, feelings don't just go away like that. Po walked over to the barracks' kitchen where Po found Viper and Crane eating their lunch. "Hey guys," Po smiled.

"Po, is something wrong? You look upset," Viper asked. The panda sat down and hunched his body. His eyes were ever on his gut.

He sighed. "I just... I know I've been losing weight and getting better at Kung Fu, but... I don't know. I thought being the Dragon Warrior would help me get rid of this gut."

Crane glanced at Viper. The serpent made a motion with her head for the bird to say something. Crane gave an awkward cough. "Po, you know that... well... since you're a panda, you can't lose that much weight.

Po rolled his eyes, groaning, "I know, Crane. I just... I don't know. I wanted to be a little slimmer. Or a little bigger? When I saw Luthera, I forgot that other bears don't have this problem."**

"I mean, Master Grizzly-"

"He has more chest than gut, Crane," Po interrupted. "And besides, I don't think my gut is really useful for anything other than making people motion sick."

"Okay, that's not true!" Viper hissed loudly. "Your gu... pudge is probably the best thing about you when you give your hugs."

"Yeah, and that gut is what prevented you from getting paralyzed by Tai Lung's nerve attack," Crane added.

The panda smiled a hint. "Thanks guys."

"Po, while you might think that your fat isn't something worth celebrating, we like it," Viper smiled.

"Really?" Po chuckled, almost in a mocking tone, "Even when I trip and stumble on top of you guys?"

"Po, you're clumsy," Crane said. "That's just a fact you have to accept." He thought for a moment. "How about this? Why don't you ask the others what they think about your gut?"

"Really?" Viper and Po both asked.

Crane quickly looked between Po and Viper. "Wh-what's wrong?"

"I know Mantis and Monkey won't be... too mean, but I'm sure that Tigress will have a few words to say about my gut," Po replied.

"She is the most blunt among us," Viper added.

"Really? Because I thought that was Mantis?" Po said.

"The title of 'bluntest' changes from time to time. Even Crane has been called blunt," Viper said. "That's beside the point. Regardless of what the others think, we appreciate all of you, Po. Don't think that you have to change who you are or what you look like just to please others."

"Hmm," the panda mumbled and walked out of the kitchen.

Without eating any food.

He wandered over to the Hall of Heroes where Mantis and Monkey were just leaving. Master Shifu was with them and saw Po's forlorn frown creasing his face. "Ah, Po. Is something wrong?"

"Yeah, man. You look like you just had a bad breakup," Monkey said.

"Nothing like that," Po breathed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just... uh... I don't know if this is the best to talk with Master Shifu here."

"What is it, Po?"

"Uh... what do you guys think about my gut?" He asked meekly.

Master Shifu gave a small understanding smile. "Having self-esteem issues, are we?"

"Well... yeah."

"Po, buddy, your stomach has saved us more times than we can count," Monkey pointed out.

Po rolled his eyes with a tiny smile. "Catching you from a fall with my belly isn't what I call saving you."

"And it's very warm on those cold nights."

"Mantis, the furnace went out one time. You all would've been fine," Po argued.

"Not for me and Viper. We would've frozen to death!" Mantis exclaimed. While they were cold-blooded, Po doubted that they couldn't stand the mountain cold. Then again, Viper was shivering like a leaf in a tornado when the furnace was out.

Po looked at the red panda. "What about you, Master Shifu? You're the one that said my gut was the biggest downside when I first came here."

"And I've been learning to swallow my preconceptions ever since," Shifu sighed. "Regardless of what I think a Kung fu warrior should be, Po, your gut is a part of you. And I would be lying if I said I was in perfect shape as well," He said, patting his own stomach.

Po smiled a bit wider. "Why don't you ask Tigress what she thinks about it?" Mantis asked.

"That's not a good idea," Monkey and Shifu answered.

"Why?"

"Tigress takes after Master Shifu with her frankness," Monkey explained.

Shifu nodded while he stroked his beard, "But she does have a lot of kindness under her rough exterior."

"That can't be argued," Mantis said.

Monkey sighed, "Either way, I think Tigress would be a good person to ask."

"You just said-"

"Po, everyone knows that you only listen to Tigress."

"What? What do you mean?"

Mantis, Monkey, and Shifu all raised their eyebrows. "Did you ask Viper and Crane about this?" Monkey asked.

"Yes?"

"And did you feel better?" Mantis asked.

"Not by much."

"Do you feel the same with us?" Shifu asked.

"A... little. Yeah."

"Po, Tigress seems to be the only one that can actually get you to believe some of the things we're saying," Master Shifu explained. "I don't know how she does it, but she does it."

"Usually it involves pain," Po muttered. "Alright, alright, I'll go see what she's doing."

"Just make sure that you have some body armor," Monkey teased. Po grumbled under his breath as he set his path towards the Training Hall.

This wasn't going to work. He knew the two sides of Tigress. The caring side would probably say something that would make sense to him and would actually get him to stop doubting himself. But he was scared that the tough exterior side of her would pop up. She had been training a lot lately, and Po did not want to be caught between her foot and the punching dummy.

The panda sighed to himself as he set foot in the Training Hall's courtyard.

Monkey and the others were right, though. He only ever seemed to listen to Tigress. He didn't know if it was because Tigress could explain things better or because of her 'rough love'. One thing was for sure. Tigress could get it through Po's thick head that his gut wasn't a problem.

But he was still curious how she would do that.

As he opened the doors of the Training Hall, he was mildly surprised to see her quietly meditating on the floor. "Uh... Tigress?"

"Yes, Po. What is it?"

"What are you doing?"

"Meditating."

"Ohh. Uh... I'll talk to you later then."

"What is it, Po?"

"Nothing, nothing important. Sorry for bothering you."

"Po," Tigress sighed, standing up. "I can tell something is wrong with you."

"Why?"

"You're not your... usual jovial self," Tigress smirked.

Po chuckled, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "It's nothing major. I just... I was wondering. Do you think my gut is a problem?"

"No."

"Wow, that took... no thought process," Po mumbled.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I... don't like this," Po lifted his belly and let it jiggle. Tigress smiled and rested a hand on his belly to make it stop. "I know I shouldn't let my weird insecurities get to me-"

"I can't help but think we had a hand in making those insecurities worse," Tigress frowned.

"Yeah, but you guys just made them more noticeable. They were always there."

"Still, I'm sorry." Tigress ran her hand over the soft fur that still jiggled a bit underneath. "Po, we like you. All of you. And if I'm... being completely honest... your gut has become one of the best things about you."

"Really?" Po smirked, resting his hands on his hips. "Even if it belly bumps you during sparring and you get angry?"

"That's only because I'm... competitive."

"Uh huh," Po smirked.

"Po, we care about you the way you are. Yes, we had our ideas about what a warrior should be, but you've shown us that despite everything, anyone can be a fighter," Tigress smiled, "And I'd be lying if I didn't say that your belly is comforting when we hug."

Po's eyes rose a bit. "Really?"

"Of course. It's soft, warm, and very pliable. Especially during cold winters."

"The furnace went out one time. It's not like you guys huddle around me everytime it gets cold," Po muttered. "Anyway, I thought you didn't like hugs."

"I never said that."

"You don't like it when I go for a hug sometimes."

"That's... because of... my image."

"Pride."

"I said, image," Tigress grunted. Po rolled his eyes. "I do like your belly, Po." Her finger traveled lower to a little hole that made Po's eyes jump.

"Hey! That's my belly button."

"I know," Tigress smirked.

"Uh... is there a reason why... you're poking in there?" Po asked anxiously.

"I just found your gut very interesting. The way it moves, jiggles, and tenses during your fights. And your belly button is... much bigger than I'm used to seeing. Actually, everything on you is bigger."

"And this is important because?"

Tigress bit her lip a little, looking left and right. "Don't... tell anyone this but I've always been... fascinated with anatomy."

"A... what?"

"Anatomy. The study of structures in living things. But most animals I see aren't big enough for me to look at.

"Except bandits," Po finished. Tigress nodded. "So... I'm a big... test subject for you."

"I don't see you like that, Po. I'm just... curious about your body. That's all," Tigress said, bashfully looking away.

"Wow, uh... thanks, Tigress. That makes me feel a lot better," Po replied with a smile he couldn't remove.

"Well," Tigress coughed awkwardly, "I hope that helps you with your... insecurity."

"Yeah, it... it does," Po smiled as Tigress returned it. He couldn't tell why he was smiling. The simple fact that Tigress found his body fascinating was enough to convince him. It was admittedly strange that she found joy in how animals were structured and how their limbs worked, but it made more sense why she knew so much about different animals.

And Po would be lying if he said he was against Tigress learning more about his body.

The End

**Though I haven't seen it, from what I gather, on its own, Dragon Knight does have some redemption points in the second season. I think we (Me included) really need to stop jumping to conclusions and just watch movies and TV without expectations. Whether they be good or bad. Besides, life isn't fun if everything meets your expectations. ;)