So, yeah. I finally caved and decided to write this already because I don't think there are enough stories that spotlight Tigress' raw badassery, which is a real shame because she's a BAMF. If you wanna know what you're gonna find here, I'll tell you:

This is a gritty version of the first movie, it's violent, explores some dark themes and it has a light and fluffy side with it's family, friendship and *gasp* Tipo scenes. It's also very Tigress-centric.

For example, do you ever wonder what a fight would be like if Tigress decided to use her claws?

There. Enjoy the story. I'll continue depending on how much support I get, but if I do decide to continue, this will probably be a very long multichap fic. :)

Master Shifu.

Now that's a name Po knows well enough, but not as well as he'd like to.

The panda first hears that name during an average spring Wednesday as he stirs a large vat of noodle broth, when his beloved father slams the door open and nearly trips over his own feet to make the red panda a very special bowl of noodles. "Because it's Master Shifu, the protector of the whole valley!" Mr. Ping later explains.

In less than two minutes, Po finds himself peeking over a counter at the small, small red panda and a tall snow leopard. On his face is the content smile, one that only a father could have, while the younger man beside him just about buries his face in the bowl of noodles with slurps and noises that could rival Po's.

When the man he assumes to be Master Shifu lays his eyes on him, it feels more like the eyes of an entire stadium that those of an old man. He feels those eyes as he walks towards the unusual pair, undeterred.

"Hi." Po says, brightly. "Are you Master Shifu?"

"Hello, young panda. Yes, I am Master Shifu." He holds out a deceptively thin hand. "What is your name?"

"My name's Po." He grins. "Dad really likes you. He puts extra salt in your noodles."

Shifu chuckles. "I noticed. Tell him I give him my compliments."

It's not until the snow leopards sets down his bowl that Po can see him clearly, all built muscles and shoulders wide as a cart.

"Whoa, how'd you get so big?"

The leopard proudly flexes his bicep and gives the panda a sure grin. "I'm training to be the Dragon Warrior, kiddo."

Po blinks innocently. "What's that? It sounds really, really cool."

"Come sit down with me." The snow leopard pats the spot next to him. "I'll tell you everything about it. And by the way, my name is Tai Lung."

That's the day Po first hears the words 'Kung Fu'.

It's during the Dragon Warrior festival that Po is obediently catering to his humble noodle stand, washing dishes and pulling noodles, that he blinks. When his eyes open again, the cart is no longer there. It's thirty feet away and it's a pile of rubble that a rhino guard is currently lying in, his neck twisted in a very unnatural angle.

An angry roar, so filled with fury that Po's blood freezes in his veins. In the very center of the plaza, Tai Lung breathes hard. Fresh blood drips from his claws, previously white and clear as the snow itself. Guards pour onto him like a swarm, yet they're knocked aside one by one, and more red spills onto the simple brick floors.

He is instantly swept up by Mr. Ping, who whispers breathlessly and tells him not to look. But as he goes farther and farther away, he looks to see Tai Lung violently toss Master Shifu aside as the old man attempts to shield a middle-aged pig from those sinister curved claws.

He closes his eyes and whimpers.

Tai Lung doesn't come back, and neither does Shifu. At least, for a very long time.

The next time Po sees Shifu, he is different. His eyebrows and moustache has whitened and his eyes are strict, stiff, and rigid. His lips are fixed into a slight frown that never moves.

But that's not what catches Po's attention.

A young tiger sits and very enthusiatically eats her noodles. Her fur is orange like a burning fire, the stripes that adorn her darker than an eclipse. She looks young, around Po's age. The other customers observe her for a reason: they don't often see tigers in the Valley Of Peace.

Po keeps a brisk pace as he makes his way to the table, holding two plates on each hand. Each one holds a generous sized bun, still steaming and perfectly warm. Two heads turn his way when Po puts the plate on their table.

"I'm sorry, young Po." Shifu says, the fatigue showing in his heavy eyes. "I think you have the wrong table."

Po shakes his head. "Nu-uh. This is a present for you."

"From your father?"

"No, from me. So you'll come back more."

"Thank you, then." Shifu says, but his voice is devoid of the kindness Po so clearly saw so long ago.

"Yeah, thanks!" The tiger says, before she turns to Shifu. "We'll come back, won't we, father?"

Father. Shifu winces at the word. "We will."

"Yeah!" The tiger pumps her fist, showing Po a sharp pair of fangs as she gives him an excited grin. She takes a large bite out of the bun, graciously filled with Po's best red beans. She makes a noise of delight. "This is delicious."

"I made it myself." Po tells her, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"Whoa, that's so awesome." The tiger claps giddily. "I'm gonna come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day."

Po gives her an embarrassed laugh. "Thanks."

"Hey, you should visit us at the Jade Palace!" She says, leaning forward animatedly.

"We talked about this..." Shifu says with a scolding stare.

Her ears flatten disappointedly. "Oh, okay..." She gives the panda an apologetic look. "Sorry, Po. But I'll visit you, okay? Then you can teach me how to make buns!" There's a twinkle in her mandarin orange pupils, framed by a yellow that reminds Po of a full moon.

"I'll be waiting." Po smiles, and he means it.

Winters pass, and she never comes back.

Over time, he finds out that Master Shifu has taken her to be his student, although no one knows where she came from. And then there's her name, one that he finds out from gossiping customers and curious children.

Tigress.

Po hears whispers now and then, customers wondering who would be cruel enough to name their child that, or rather, who would be cruel enough to not name their child. They tell of how she has forbidding eyes and baleful fangs and claws that can cut through stone.

He sees her sometimes, over the years. Brief glances as she grows older, taller, stronger. He sees her every time bandits threaten the town and every time a thief steals from a defenseless merchant. She moves like a true predator, striking hard and fast to all who dare to fight her with fists as hard as steel. One punch for one enemy. One carries enough force to break flesh and bone like they're sandpaper and toothpicks.

Whenever her name is mentioned by the townsfolk, he wonders what she's doing and whether she forgot her own words. He deflates at the idea, pushing it to the back of his mind yet again.

Not once does he ever come close to her, but that's going to change.

Po takes a series of short, ragged breaths as he climbs the last step to the Jade Palace before he collapses on the spot. His tongue lolls out comically as he gasps for the crisp morning air. He can't believe he'll have to do this every day, but he'll do it.

After all, he'll be working for the newly formed Furious Five.

"Oh dear," A dark feathered goose feels Po's forehead with his wing. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Po tries to catch his breath as the goose pulls him up. "Just need lots of water."

The goose chuckles. "My name's Zeng. You must be the cook."

"Oh boy, oh boy!" Po giddily marvels at the sight of the building. "I'm really at the Jade Palace! And I'm going to be working for the Furious Five." He seems close to hyperventilating at those last two words. "How cool is that?!"

"Oh, you'll get used to it soon enough." Zeng pats the panda amicably. "They're a bunch of good, hard working people. Popular with the folks too. I can see why you youngsters love seeing them so much. Come on, I'll show you in."

Po picks himself up quickly, his sapped energy seemingly overcome by his fanboyish desires. The tall doors of the Jade Palace opens, and his jaw drops. Immaculately polished floors and sturdy crimson pillars greet him into the very place where his heroes live. The hall is large enough for his footsteps to echo and the floor is polished to the point that he can clearly see his reflection on it.

"See, the Jade Palace isn't really overflowing with staff." Zeng's voice echoes with his footsteps as he leads the way. "Master Oogway insists that as Kung Fu masters, the Furious Five shouldn't live like royalty. They are warriors, after all, and a spoiled and coddled warrior's not a warrior at all. It's not really a problem, though, they're all very down to earth people. It just means that there are no cooks here in the palace. It used to be fine, but Masters Mantis, Monkey, Crane and Viper are living here now..."

"I still can't believe Master Shifu asked me to be the cook here." Po sighs dreamily. "I guess some dreams do come true..."

"Oh no, you have it all wrong." Zeng feels a pang of nostalgia as he watches the young man's enthusiasm. "It's Master Tigress."

There it is, guys. Please review if you're interested in this story. If there's enough interest, I'll definitely continue it from start to finish.

This is for all you Tigress fans. (And the future chapters will be longer.)