Po couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned in his cot. Being the Dragon Warrior meant so much to him. Peng couldn’t take his place, could he?
But Peng was a great fighter. And everyone liked him.
Po jumped out of bed very early in the morning. He had to talk to Master Shifu about this! Po found him outside.
“Oh, Po, there you are,” Shifu said. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
“You mean no-pants Fridays?” Po asked.
“No, what you said about a ‘fresh face.’ That’s why I think the closing ceremony Tai Chi should be performed by Peng.”
Po felt like he had been hit by a brick.
“Peng,” he said in a tiny voice.
“Then we’re agreed,” Shifu said. “I’ll take him the crown.”
“You know what? I’ll give it to Peng. I mean, after all, it was my brilliant idea to bring him here, right?” Po said.
“Good,” Shifu said. “Be quick. The ceremony is tonight.”
Po found Peng in the palace, signing an autograph for Zeng.
“Hey, I’ve got some news from Shifu,” Po said. His paw touched the crown on his head. He knew what he was supposed to do.
But he just couldn’t do it.
“Is something wrong?” Peng asked.
“Yeah, yeah. Well, no. Um, it’s Shifu,” Po said. “Yeah, you’re just not making the cut and he, not me, thinks it would be better if you just left.”
Peng looked hurt—and then his expression grew angry.
“I can’t believe it. You invited me here, and now you say I’m not good enough?” he asked. His yellow eyes blazed with anger. “I’ll prove to Shifu that’s he’s wrong! He’s wrong!”
“Wait! No, Peng!” Po cried.
“You’ll see!” Peng replied, and then he ran away.
Master Shifu appeared behind Po. “Where’s Peng?”
Po stammered. “He, um, said no, thanks. Can you believe it? He admitted he was just using us to get famous, so he left.”
Master Shifu stroked his whiskers thoughtfully. “Using us? Hmm . . . I guess it was too much to ask him to be so skilled and to be honest and pure of heart, too. Like you, Dragon Warrior.”
Shifu walked off, but his words stayed with Po. He hadn’t been honest and pure of heart. He had been awful.
“I gotta find Peng!” Po cried.
Peng knew exactly where he was going. He boldly strode into Temutai’s tent.
“What are you doing here?” Temutai asked.
“They threw me out of the Jade Palace,” Peng said angrily. “They think I’m not strong enough, and I’m here to show them they’re wrong.”
“Ha! Yes! By training with me!” Temutai said triumphantly.
“No,” Peng said. He grabbed a sword and pointed it at the warrior. “By showing them that I can destroy you!”
Temutai’s eyes grew wide. “That’s different!”
