Insecurities

The Real Reason for this Story

The two talked and walked up the mountain together. Tigress enjoyed the rabbit's company, even though with the weapons talk. His nervous speech and excited nature made it easy for Tigress adjust to. After all, he was just like Po.

"I can't figure out why you were so hard on yourself," Zheng said.

"What do you mean?"

"Master Tigress, you would train almost every time. To the point that your bones would break. Even I knew Shifu was pushing you too hard," Zheng-Hau answered with a roll of his eyes.

"Shifu wasn't the one pushing me," Tigress argued back, crossing her arms the best she could without hurting arm. "It was me that pushed myself," Tigress replied. Zheng-Hau's eyes widened. He backed away a bit in fear.

"That... that makes it worse. Because why would you break yourself so much for something... or someone," Zheng-Hau asked. Tigress fell silent as she looked down at the ground. Zheng-Hau rested his hand gently on her bandaged hand. "It wasn't all in vain. I'm just saying that you have to care for yourself before you start caring about others. Love others as you love yourself, not more than yourself." Zheng smiled. Just then, Po and Tai-Lung, chatting together, came over to the tiger and hare as Tigress smiled at the jackrabbit, bending down and hugging him. The panda and snow leopard were both too shocked for words. Well... Po tried saying words, but they mostly came out in splutters and gaspings. Zheng was shocked as well. "Uhhh..."

"Thank you," Tigress said, releasing him. Zheng-Hau shook off his surprise and looked at Po.

"Um..." Po stuttered.

"Tigress and I were just having a talk. Now, it's your turn to have a small talk with them," Zheng said.

"About what?" Po asked. Zheng rolled his eyes with a sigh as he walked over to Po and whispered in his ear. "WHAT?! NO!"

"They need to know," Zheng argued.

"And?! It's not my time to tell them yet!" Po argued frustrated, but Tigress could see the fear in the panda's frantic eyes.

"Po, I'm not going to be here all the time to talk to you about it."

"What are you, my therapist?" Po grunted.

"Po," Tigress butted in, "Whatever it is, I'm sure we won't tease you about it."

"I make no such promise," Tai-Lung said bluntly, making the panda glare at him.

"Yun said she needed me to help her with sparring. I hope you guys have a good rest of the day," Zheng-Hau said, giving one last look to Po before leaving. Po sighed, looking at his two feline friends in the face.

"Po, what's the matter?" Tigress asked. Po twiddled his fingers.

"It's... it's kind of the reason why I was upset before the whole Zheng-Hau happened." Po explained. The air was thick with silence. Tigress and Tai-Lung looked at each other. Tigress made a gesture with her head to get Tai-Lung to break the silence. Tai-Lung cleared his throat.

"Ahem, um Po... you don't have to do that if you don't want to."

"No," Po stopped him, "No, Zheng-Hau's right. If I don't trust you now, I won't trust you later." Po took a deep breath in and spoke. "When I was acting up that day, I was looking at you two sparring. Tai-Lung has a naturally great warrior bode and confidence to him. He's the crowning prince of what a Kung Fu Warrior should look like."

"Why thank you," Tai-Lung smiled smugly. Tigress punched him in the arm to bring the 'prince' back to earth. "So you were jealous of me?" He muttered, rubbing his arm.