The Big Day

The day came. "Come on, you're going too slow!" Tigress shouted at Song. The snow leopard leaped over the gate as they rushed the subway steps to the open air.

"Calm down, Tigress. We'll get there."

"I promised Po I would get there early."

"We're still on time. Don't worry," Song shouted back. The train had been delayed and the felines ran at top speed through the busy street. "Excuse me. Excuse me!"

"Ugh! Do people not know how to walk on a Sunday?!" Tigress snarled. They made it to the gym and shot through the doors. "Made it."

"Yeah, but I think I stepped in something on the train," Song pouted. Tigress rolled her eyes as they walked passed the front desk. The Strength Training area with astroturf had been cleared and reorganized for the event. A crowd had gathered around it while people clustered on the second-floor track to see the action from above. Rhinos, gorillas, bears, and other big-bodied animals made seeing the front nearly impossible.

"Mei Ling!" Tigress shouted and waved her hand. The Golden cat waved back near the restrooms. The two felines squeezed through the crowds. "Where's Po?"

"He's in the back with the others. We decided to use the private studios to get them ready."

"And Tai Lung?" Song asked concerned. The Golden Cat growled softly, crossing her arms. "How is Po doing?"

"Yongqi and Kai are keeping him stable... and Po's keeping Kai and Yongqi away from Tai Lung," Mei Ling murmured.

"I understand Kai, but why-"

"Yongqi doesn't really take lip from anyone. Especially if they're disrespecting someone. He can be hot-tempered about it sometimes, but... it's cute and comforting."

Tigress and Song looked at the Golden Asian cat's soft smile. "Umm. Is there something about Yongqi that you want to tell us?"

"No!" Mei Ling quickly said.

Tigress shook her head. "We don't have time for this. Where's Po? I need to see him."

"Easy, Tigress. I'm pretty sure he's fine," Song said. Tigress's impatient stare didn't disappear. Mei Ling walked into the studios. "You know, I understand you care about Po, but don't you think this is a bit much? You're acting like he can't function without you."

"I just want him to know that I am here for him."

"Tigress, we all are. You know he can do this."

"But I-"

"Tigress, he'll be okay," Song smiled, resting her hand on her shoulder. She chuckled a bit. "It's funny. This is the same hall where we first met Po."

Tigress looked down the corridor. The restrooms were on the right-hand side with a bright white newly installed camera that Tigress couldn't help but chuckle at. "I will say this much about Tai Lung," Song continued. "Without him, we would've never met Po."

"His company would've merged with us."

"But I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have liked him if he hadn't saved you."

Tigress rose an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You know I can take care of myself."

"I know, but just because you can take care of yourself doesn't mean you can't enjoy someone else taking care of you," Song smiled. "Besides, it'll be nice to see how Tai Lung does with this challenge." Tigress rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with her red tank top.

"I couldn't help but hear my name," said a voice neither of them wanted to hear. The snow leopard popped out of the restroom with that irritating smile. He wore a pair of purple pants and a white blazer with a number one taped onto it. Tigress mentally rolled her eyes. Of course, he would have that number on him. "Ladies, it's good to see you."

"I wish I could say the same," Tigress grumbled.

Tai Lung grinned, "Ready to see me win this thing?"

"You have three competitors to go through. Worry about them first," the tiger answered.

"Ha! I've seen the competition. An old veteran, an annoying cocky panda, and another panda that couldn't lift a chair."

"And yet that panda put you in your place," Tigress grunted. She gave a long sigh. "You know, you would actually be interesting if you were less full of yourself." The spotted leopard's smirk disappeared. "It's a shame that you can't see past your pride to see how badly outmatched you are."

"By those guys?" Tai Lung laughed, "Please, this is going to be easy." He turned to the other feline who had turned her eyes away. "Song, why don't you and I have a drink after I win."

Song's eyes lit up and her smile brightened. "That would be lovely." Tigress heard the tone poisoned with revenge, but the male snow leopard's smile didn't diminish.

"You're welcome to come if you want, Tigress," he said a little more haughtily.

"Never in this lifetime or the next." She grunted back. The large snow leopard gave a small huff before walking towards the tournament event.

Just then, Po came out with the biggest nervous grin the two cats had ever seen on anyone. "Hey Po!"

"He-he-hey," Po waved his hand. It had more tremors than a vibrating chair. Tigress rested her hand on his clothed belly, stopping all the nerves.

"We're here. It's okay," Tigress smiled.

Po gently wrapped his hand around hers, smiling back. "Thank you."

"So you're not worried about Tai Lung?" Song asked.

"Not really," Po replied, scratching the back of his head. "If anything, I'll have to keep Kai and Yongqi in check. Yongqi nearly wanted to put Tai Lung over his leg and slap the heck out of him."

"I'm telling you, Po," Said the taller panda behind him. "That's not a bad thing." Kai and Yongqi walked out of the studio, wearing sleeveless shirts. The jade-eyed panda rolled his eyes as Yongqi smiled widely, wrapping his arm around Po's shoulders. "And who is this?"

"You've met Tigress," Po said, "But this is Song, Tigress's friend."

"Hi."

"Song, huh? I think that snow leopard that needs a spanking mentioned something about a Song," Yongqi chuckled, "Didn't know why he was talking about a music number."

Song smirked, glancing at Tigress. The tiger wore a knowing grin while Kai clapped the backs of both pandas.

"Alright, you two. Enough delay. We have a tournament to compete."

"You mean you have a tournament to lose."

"Shut up, Yongqi," Kai grumbled and laughed, walking towards the event.

"We're with you, Po. Don't forget," Song smiled.

"I'll try not to." The panda grinned, though a deep nervousness crept inside as the tiger and leopard left.

"Hey, you okay? I know the floor's interesting but-"

"Hehe. Nothing, I'm fine. I'm fine," Po huffed out his anxiety, though it didn't seem to work. Yongqi stopped him and made Po face him.

"Remember, be present with the fear."

"What?"

"Be present with the fear. You know that whole stuff about body and mind connection that Kai talks about?"

"Yeah," Po said.

"It applies to your fear. Your head is making monsters that aren't there. It makes pain exist that isn't actually there. Don't be in your head. Be here," Yongqi replied.

The hooded panda watched the blue-eyed bear. "How do you know so much about this?" Po asked.

Yongqi smiled. "Just because I took one route doesn't mean I don't know anything about the other route," He slapped Po on the back, grinning widely. "Come on, let's do this."

Po nodded at the smiling panda, and the two of them made their way to the event.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Strongman Tournament. The rules are simple," said an announcer cheetah to the crowd.

Po looked at the cheetah and shivered. "You okay?" Kai asked.

"Yeah, just... bad memories."

"Each participant has entered numbers of what they'll lift before the tournament. The contestants will have three attempts to lift the weight they chose and three times to increase the weight. They can not lower the weight. There will be three movements."

"Three?" Yongqi whispered to Kai. "What about the dynamic ones? They did that last time."

"Mei Ling got tired of fixing the ground every time people did the Snatch moves. Plus, if we had more contestants, we'd save time."

"Our judges will determine the score for each lifter," finished the cheetah. Tai Lung went first for the chest press. Three spotters were put in place.

"No need guys. I've got this," Tai Lung said with a cocksure grin. Po rolled his eyes while Yongqi snickered. Tai Lung was bench pressing 110 lbs. The snow leopard waited for the cue, jerked his arms, and benched with ease. The crowd clapped and cheered as he lowered the bar, rose from the bench, and bowed graciously.

Po shook his head with a groan as Tai Lung walked over to the others. "I hope you three can beat that," He grinned and crossed his arms.

"Ohhh, I love the fact they don't publicize our requested weights," Yongqi smirked.

"Yongqi, behave," Po murmured.

"Tell the spotted baby that-"

"Yongqi," Po hissed. The taller panda grumbled, crossing his arms.

"You two are more like brothers with each passing moment," Kai chuckled.

"Next up, Po Ping."

The panda gulped, feeling Yongqi give him a reassuring slap on the back. Po instinctively looked at Tigress standing in front of the crowd. She gave a nod. The panda stepped forward and went underneath the barbell.

The spotters added the requested weight: 200 lbs. Tai Lung's eyes widened. "There's no way he can bench that."

Po waited for the signal and easily benched the weight. The crowd cheered, loudly clapping and rooting for the panda. Louder than they did for Tai Lung. The hooded panda walked back to the others. Tai Lung was too shocked to say anything. "You forgot to struggle, Po," Yongqi smirked.

"I wanted to go easy."

"What steroids did you take to be able to lift that?" Tai Lung grimly grunted.

"Ha! You mean the same panda that's scared of needles like the plague?" Kai laughed.

"I'm not scared. They just... freak me out," Po murmured.

Tai Lung gawked as Kai leaned over next to him. "Face it kitten. You're out of your league here."

Continued...