The fight was NOT going well.
 
Po wasn't sure how long he could keep this up, constantly dodging the ferocious attacks of the snow leopard - Tai Lung's nerve attacks didn't seem to work on him, something he credited to the thick layers of fat he carried, but Tai Lung was still a formidable opponent. They'd already destroyed several buildings and torn up a good section of road - if he didn't end this fight quickly, the inhabitants of the Valley wouldn't have any homes to come back TO. But how?
 
 
Tai Lung grinned triumphantly as Po just barely edged out of the way of a punch, getting noticeably slower. "Aw, is the big fat panda getting tired?" He sneered, his fists alight with chi energy.
 
Po growled in frustration - He had thought that the scroll would give him some kind of greater power, something that he could defeat the snow leopard with - and while he'd figured out what it meant, it still left him without a way to take down Tai Lung. The scroll was blank, empty - as a low growl would remind him, so was his stomach.
 
His eyes lit up with sudden inspiration - He could solve two problems at once. The only worry was Tai Lung's nerve attacks...would they work within the layers of padding he had? He squared his shoulders with determination. He'd always bragged about having an iron stomach - no better time to test it!
 
Tai Lung threw a powerful kick directly into Po's face - to his surprise, rather than trying to move out of the way, Po simply opened his mouth - probably to deliver another one of those stupid one-liners, Tai Lung thought - catching his foot in his jaws. Tai Lung grimaced at the feeling of panda drool on his foot, while Po grimaced at the feel of the kick against his teeth. Still, it gave him his start!
 
Tai Lung tried to pull his foot back out, but for some reason it didn't budge - almost like Po was clenching his jaws around it? But why would he do that? Tai Lung rolled his eyes. "Oh for...don't tell me my foot is stuck." He snarled. "I'll just have to break your skull to get free, I suppose."
 
The snow leopard tried to reach up to grab Po's ears, but was rather startled when Po, rather than try to extract his foot, suddenly yanked his other leg out from beneath him, his shock lasting long enough for Po to get his other foot in his mouth before Tai Lung could react. Taking advantage of Tai Lung's surprise and loss of balance, Po focused on his task - for the sake of the Valley - and swallowed.
 
With a noisy gulp, Tai Lung's legs started vanishing into his throat, his esophagus used to stretching to contain large amounts of noodles, bean buns and other treats in large quantities. It had never had to stretch quite this far - but it was up to the task.
 
Tai Lung's eyes widened in shock - this couldn't be! While he had fed on more than one opponent - when your challengers were bunnies, chickens, and sheep, it was hard to resist - but for him to be put in that position? For anyone to DARE think that they could do this to HIM? Surely none would even dream of it!
 
Yet there he was, now up to his waist in the Panda's mouth! He tried to pull himself out, but Po's throat muscles were too strong - he was furious that anyone would dare to even think of treating him that way!
 
He snarled viciously, swinging at Po's head and anywhere else he could reach - but Po was ready for this. Spending all his time at the Jade Palace getting the living daylights beaten out of him by Shifu and the Five, he had a pretty solid tolerance towards pain. Besides, the taste of the snow leopard in his jaws was - surprisingly good! Even better than noodles, or bean buns, or anything else he'd had! Taking a solid punch to the top of his head, Po decided to hurry things up a bit more - his stomach was growling, and he wasn't one to deny it a filling meal.
 
Swallowing hard several times, the snow leopard's chest began disappearing between his teeth, his arms being forced up around his head as his shoulders started being squeezed by Po's jaws. Panic started to bloom in Tai Lung's chest, realizing that this was no simple act of defiance - the panda was actually devouring him! "No...NO!" He roared, squirming with all his might, trying to claw his way free - but it was no use, the panda's fur, fat and hide were too thick for him to do anything to, particularly in the position he was currently in.
 
Po giggled slightly at the feeling of Tai Lung's thrashing, another few swallows leaving the big cat staring out from between Po's jaws, his view framed by the panda's teeth. "You can't do this to me, you bamboo-brained bucket of lard! You're just a big..fat...PANDA!" He wailed.
 
With that, Po gave the strongest swallow of all, Tai Lung's body bulging out his fur as he slid down Po's throat and into his waiting belly. When his arms and legs were freed of Po's constricting throat, Tai Lung threw everything he had into desperately fighting to be freed - kicking, punching, clawing, and trying his nerve attacks. It seemed Po's reputation as iron-bellied was well earned, however - Tai Lung couldn't get his claws into his slimy stomach walls, the nerve attacks and struggling did nothing but make Po laugh at the ticklish feelings in his churning, wildly wriggling belly.
 
His struggles grew more desperate as the air in Po's belly got thinner and more acidic, stomach acids dripping into his fur. It was only itching now, but he knew it'd turn to burning before long. He roared as he clawed madly, pawprints and the shape of his body appearing through Po's fur as he fought for his life.
 
It was all fruitless, of course - Po could feel the snow leopard's struggles grow weaker and weaker as he ran out of air, his powerful thrashing turning slowly into weak wriggling. "Curse...you....panda...." Tai Lung choked out, his last breath before he finally fainted, soon to be nothing more than more panda fat.
 
Po grinned, patting his now-still, but noticeably larger belly. "See, Tai Lung, I'm not just A big fat panda."
 
 
"I'm THE big fat panda."