I'll post a new chapter every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Don't forget to also read my other stories, "High Command: A Tiger's Tale," "Help Yourself," or "Why Not?"
IMPORTANT- Po is not in this piece, and altogether I've decided not to use his character, this story is written just for Tigress; I wanted her to be the star.
Lastly, don't forget to R&R (Rate & Review) for Herr Regis!

Something New

After the birth of the three cubs, Jay had began his plan to modernize and expand the valley, so it expanded from a village to a true economic power. He had created the bribery law to prevent under the table business conducted in his village that would go untaxed, and when his law proved itself ineffective, Jay decided to faze out seed distributors. He purchased five hundred acres of land deemed suitable for farming, and he hired more then fifty workers to tend to that land, employing valley residence, and also bringing in new people to the valley itself. Once his farms had made a sufficient amount of money, Jay built a hospital, large enough to accommodate fifteen patients at any given moment. In the village, several citizens were hired as nurses, and Jay invited the same doctor who took him in out of the rain to serve as the village physician. He was happy to move himself to a new village, where he'd get to control a much larger office, and likely make more money.

With property and hundreds of acres of successful farmland under his belt, Jay moved to purchase something a little more sentimental. For a long time the Boa Gu Orphanage belonged to an eastern village, only a thirty minute walk from the palace, but now it was part of the valley, and under private control. Jay bought it for Tigress as a birthday present, and she was glad to see that he remodeled the inside, removing the prison atmosphere and creating something nice.

He paid for its expenses with some of his farming profit.

Once the farms had pains for themselves- also knowing it would only take half of the farms to pay for the orphanage, Jay donated the other half of his farm lands to the community. With unused profit rolling in, the community finally built a wall around the valley. Encircling everything all the way to the mountains, they had at least two thousand acres protected with guard towers and gates. With the rest of the money, several more deputies were hired, making it so Jay never even had to go to work, he simply supervised everything else. There was also a fire brigade assembled of volunteer deputies to the constable, only assembling to train and in case of emergency. With the communities farm paying for the wall, the police, the firefighters, and their equipment, the remainder went into a pot luck, to help the misfortunate.

After five hard years of work, all of this became a reality.

That year, the village honored Jay by building a statue of him just inside the main gate, deeming him the most influential man in the history of The Valley of Peace, further honoring him for his commitment to society and his charitable nature. This goes without saying, but that night Jay had sex.

Yes, taxes had gone up to total seven percent on income, and six percent on everything else. The people excepted this willingly, knowing that the money was put to good use, benefiting them greatly.

To engrave citizens in the wall of fame, Mr. Ping's noodle shop developed several franchises with the help of a certain tiger investor, and the old goose retired early, sufficiently wealthy for a single man who's grandfather won a noodle cart in a game of mahjong.

The wheat farmer, formerly sad and worthless, also retired, his son going on to command much of Jay's farmland, yielding massive amounts of healthy crops each year. He married one of his farmhands, who just so happened to be a rabbit named Lynn. She was older then him by maybe ten years, but no one was judging.

It was the cubs eighteenth birthday. They had all grown up into the children Jay and Tigress always hoped for. Heartz, the oldest and the only boy, was big and satisfyingly strong. He stood just as erect as his father, or he tried to. He was good looking and witty, smart and knowledgable, even under pressure, but he wasn't anywhere near as strong as he looked. Heartz was a brain, he could make millions like his father had been doing, but in a fight he'd be useless. His eyes were blue, and certainly representative of his soft nature. He was even more charitable than his father, emotional even, but he was conservative enough to hold his own. Constanze, the eldest daughter and commonly called 'stanze, was an exact replica of Tigress. Burnt amber eyes, a strong conviction and passion into everything she did, and endless devotion to her family. She wanted to be a warrior for the Jade Palace, which would be given her officially- if the good graces of the Master Shifu allowed it- when she was twenty five. Theresia was sweet, a woman's woman. She giggled when people spoke to her, even if what they said wasn't funny. She was pretty too, much more thin than Tigress. Not to say Tigress was fat, but Theresia was so much smaller at the waist. She spoke softly, and resembled most Viper. Viper, was also named godmother to the cubs because of her supporting Tigress while she was pregnant.

They were celebrating their true birthdays, but Jay had instituted something he thought was an amazing idea as a father. Every half birthday, the three cubs could have whatever they wanted, and Jay would never say no, whatever it was. The only problem was that they only got one thing, and they all had to agree on it. Heartz liked boy stuff, Constanze liked whatever Tigress did, and Theresia liked girl stuff. They rarely ever agreed.

Heartz dressed like his father, flamboyantly. Bright colors, new and modern styles, he looked like a million bucks, and that's basically how much his clothing cost. Constanze dressed conservatively, she wasn't out to impress anyone. Theresia wore pant suits. Enough said there.

It was their birthday, and Tigress was happily not cooking. She never did learn how to cook, so being rich they permanently hired someone to cook for them, and while they were at it Jay hired someone to clean for them as well.

Constanze was up at the Jade Palace, training with Master Shifu himself. Monkey and Mantis had left the valley to pursue other interests, leaving only Crane and Viper. They had a thing for each other, but it's not serious.

Theresia tended the roses around the house and outside, she too had developed a taste for the flower.

Heartz was reading a book that he had gotten yesterday pertaining to government. He had been swept away by the ideas of large scale charity, but his father had successfully drilled capitalism in there as well. Sadly, Heartz could never be a politician, because one peep out of Jay and the emperor would take everything away from him yet again. This time, he had much more to lose. So much in fact he wouldn't be able to protect it all.

"Eighteen years Tigress."

"Yes, now I'm forty two and you're forty nine."

"You look beautiful."

Jay picked up a rose from a vase, holding it up to her nose. She sniffed it, lowering his paw with her own.

"I feel old."

"We are old."

"I miss my twenties."

Jay rolled his eyes, picking her up and setting her down on the corner of their bed. He kissed her a few times, not being shy.

"I'm glad for your twenties, an I look back on them fondly."

"All six years you were present."

"Did you know, the same year we met was the same year you got pregnant?"

Tigress laid back on the bed, closing her eyes and thinking.

"We work fast."

"Look at us now, we own several businesses, there's a statue of you at the village gate! A gate we paid for! Mr. Ping is rich courtesy of you, and we've got three fully grown cubs."

"We've also got the best relationship in the valley, and nine million dollars to spare."

"To think, you started with less then half of that."

"The horrors of being poor."

Jay smiled at his sarcastic comment, and Tigress chuckled.

"At least we gave back."

"I've got a statue to prove it, and you've got the orphanage."

"Jay, if I asked you if you enjoyed your life, and if you wanted to change anything, what would you say?"

He crawled on top of her, kissing her neck a few times before rolling over, letting her be on top of him.

"I'd say I enjoyed my life, and the only thing I'd change would be meeting you sooner."

Tigress smiled, sitting up and grinding her hips on his a little.

"It's been awhile"

She said, referencing sex.

"Tonight?"

She nodded.

"I'm hungry for more thunder."

Thunder was their trademark word for sex, just like Jay always said 'look at me' when he spoke.

Afternoon came, and Master Shifu as well as Crane and Viper came down to celebrate the cubs birthdays.

The three eighteen year olds were relaxing in the billiards room of the house, Heartz reading, Constanze resting with a cup of tea, and Theresia playing with the billiard balls.

"Having fun over there? That clacking will drive me mad."

Said Heartz, incapable of muting the noise of clacking pool balls behind him.

"I am having fun, thank you."

Theresia smiled to herself, biting her lip and letting her eyes track there way over to where her brother was sitting for only a moment. She too sat down, letting him be at peace if that's what he wanted.

After reading for several more minutes, Jay found Constanze looking at him. She was obviously deep in thought, and whatever it was it might of had to do with him.

"I'm not here to entertain you 'stanze."

She stayed quiet for a moment, still thinking before she piped up.

"Good, because if you were I'd want my money back."

Heartz rolled his eyes.

"Good one, brother."

Constanze narrowed her burnt amber eyes. She hated being called a boy.

"I'm not your brother."

Heartz nodded, putting his book down and readjusting his red cardigan.

"Maybe, I'm not sure."

"Take that back Heartz."

Cooed Theresia, wanting to end it before Cnstanze beat her brother up- again.

"Alright alright, I hereby formally admit 'stanze is most likely female."

He grinned as his sister growled. Theresia smiled and accepted his response gladly.

"Heartz, could I go get one of your books?"

He peered up, ready to help Theresia in her conquest for knowledge.

"Take from any shelf but the third."

Theresia nodded, walking out of the room and guiding Constanze with her.

"Why are we doing this? Why do I have to come?"

Constanze pulled her paw back, now simply walking behind Theresia who was drifting through the halls.

"Maybe if you read one of his books, you could find something to agree on."

"I am not a boy."

Mumbled Constanze under her breath, frustrated.

"I know 'stanze I know."

They walked down the entry corridor to a door on the right, going inside to where the books were kept. The library was two floors, and you needed a ladder to scale the deep, rich wood book shelves and grab the highest books. Heartz kept his books in one section, rows three and four on a certain shelf, a height conveniently located at elbow level.

Theresia held out her paw to Constanze, and the eldest sister reached in and grabbed two books, one from each shelf. She down, sitting and reading government jargon and a law book she didn't understand.

"I don't get it."

Constanze snapped the book closed, walking back to the shelves to place them in their homes. She stopped to Theresia's surprise.

"What are you doing 'stanze?"

"Look at these shelves. This shelf is deeper then this one."

Constanze pawed at the back wall to the shallow shelf, flicking it with a single hard black claw and realizing it was hallow.

"Is it..."

"Hallow? Yes, I think Heartz is hiding something in here."

Replied Constanze, soon to have dirt on her brother.

"I don't think..."

"Nonsense! There's no hiding in this house."

Constanze grabbed and edge. The small backboard rose up to reveal a second row of book behind the first. Like a lid on tracks, the cover wafted out of the way, melting into the real backboard and hiding itself.

Constanze pulled book after book from the secret shelf, reading titles and some of the pages.

"What are they?"

Asked Theresia, gulping for two reasons. She hoped her brother wouldn't catch them, and she hoped her brother wasn't neck deep in something bad for his mind.

"These are romance novels, there are over fifty books back here!"

Constanze reached for another, turning it over in her paws.

Heartz had the good sense to walk in just then, his blue eyes gone wide. He wore read pressed pants, a red knit cardigan and a white banded collar shirt. He dressed strangely, and apparently he also read that way for a boy.

"Those are not yours!"

Heartz ripped the book from Constanze's paws, and she grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. He sighed in discomfort, stomping on her paw once: she released him.

"You're a pansy!"

Yelped Constanze with a smile, watching her brother desperately gather his books.

"Those weren't yours to find!"

"So love is what you like? You read about love? What kind of boy are you?"

"Don't judge me."

"I swear you're the girl here."

"And I swear you're the boy."

"Shut your trap Heartz."

Constanze picked up one of his books, ripping out several pages in slow agony of expensive paper separating from its binding.

"Don't hurt them!"

"Them? Like this book is alive?"

Heartz took his book back, placing the torn pages in line with the binding and putting that one off to the side.

"It's more emotional then you are butch!"

"How dare you call me that!"

"How dare you disobey me! I strictly forbade you from accessing the third shelf, and you did exactly that."

Jay walked in then, Tigress on his arm. She shied away from the disaster in the library, opting to meet her friends who would be at the door any minute.

"Dad! Heartz is hiding a hoard of smut on a secret bookshelf!"

"It's not smut!"

Jay walked over to his three children, looking at them in a way that demanded reverence. After all, they were in a library. He picked up one of his son's books, lifting it to his eyes so that he could read it. Heartz' could feel his heart pounding in his chest, if his father didn't approve of this form of literature, he could lose everything. Silently, he slipped his favorite book into the waistband of his pants, covering it with his cardigan to keep it safe.

"Romantic novels aren't smut 'stanze, there works of art."

Constanze nearly feel backwards, and Heartz breathed a sigh of relief.

"Next time Heartz, lock the lid."

"It doesn't lock."

Jay shook his head.

"You should have asked for the key. You simply found it in the unlocked position."

"Dad, where did he get the books? Not that I disapprove, I'm just curious."

Added Theresia, smiling at her father innocently.

"He asked for yuan to buy books and I gave it to him."

"You're not mad at me?"

Said Heartz, standing up more effect and feeling excepted.

"No, I've known about this stash for at least two years now. I use to put things like ink in here."

"You knew and didn't stop him?"

Said Constanze, mad and ignorant.

"Enough from you. You're paying to have that book rebound, and as punishment for messing around in his things, I want you to read one of these cover to cover."

"What!"

"He'll pick one for you. Later."

Said Jay, walking out of the library with his daughters in tow. Heartz cleaned up his mess, and discovered on a table beside him a small shiny looking key. On the other side of the hidden shelf lid he found a lock hole he hadn't noticed before. He loved it, taking the key with him and smiling happily.

Tigress was at the door, and Jay walked up behind her, opening the door and letting Master Shifu, Crane, and Viper into the house.

"Good evening master."

Constanze bowed to him. She was the one who spent a lot of time at the training hall with her mother, so she was most connected to the master.

"Nice to see you 'stanze, Theresia, Heartz."

"Hello."

Responded the other two young adults, waving and smiling at the master. Theresia's smile was pretty and cute, Heartz's smile was the kind a girl melted to, and Constanze didn't smile enough to determine the way it made people feel.

"Hi Tigress, how are you?"

"Another happy day in the tigers' den. How's the palace?"

"A little empty, but we get by."

"Nice to see your three."

"I'd say the same for you, you're everywhere now, a celebrity."

Said Master Shifu, aware that Jay was the most renowned citizen in the history of the valley.

"I try."

"Happy wife happy life right Jay?"

Said Tigress, taking his paw and hers and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She squeezed her momentarily to express his love in a quiet gesture, happy she wanted to touch him still, after being married for eighteen years.

"Absolutely."

Jay kissed her ear, squeezing his wife again.

Later that night, the family of five and their three guests were sitting around the dinner table, eating soup and a specialty bread made by the chef.

"So what do you three want for your birthday this year?"

Asked Master Shifu, privy to Jay's 'anything you want' policy.

Spooning her soup, Constanze mumbled under her breath.

"Heartz will want more smut and some lotion."

She was loud enough for everyone to hear, and the three non-tigers raised there eyebrows in sudden concern. Heartz lowered his head, not embarrassed of what he read, more so that his sister insinuated he masterbated to it. He didn't of coarse, Heartz had much better things to fondle himself to.

"Don't say that at the dinner table 'stanze, it's inappropriate and untruthful."

Said Jay, being firm with his daughter. He'd had just about enough of her judging, the three fought occasionally but this was too far.

"What is she talking about?"

"She found a private book collection, romantic novels."

"Oh, that's not smut, more of a... creative expression of emotion, like art."

"That's what I said."

"Thank you!"

Said Heartz, glad the two most respectable males in the valley sided with him, leaving his sister with nothing to stand on.

"I don't approve."

"What you think is irrelevant in this case, have you even read any?"

Asked Master Shifu, ready to defend romantic literature for an unknown reason.

"It's her punishment, she had to read a book of her brothers choosing."

Said Jay, making Master Shifu smile.

"Well, I was thinking maybe we could have fireworks."

"I can do that."

Responded Jay to Theresia, who had finally decided to speak up.

"Fireworks? I can get behind that."

Said Constanze, ready to stop instigating and be a part of the solution. The two girls looked at Heartz, who was the determine vote. They hadn't been very nice to him that day, so his consent felt far away.

"I was once told by a well written book-" Heartz swirled his spoon around in his soup, taking a sip of the tea in front of him, it was fruity, and he took it as a sign, "-that you should never deny a woman happiness, fireworks granted."

Everyone smiled happily, knowing that not only the three young adults, but the entire valley would be given exposure to this marvelous gift.

"You'll write to Lord Shen?"

Asked Tigress, looking to her husband. He nodded, putting his tea cup back down.

"I've been in contact with him, I'll ask and send money."

"It's good of you to want this, it's something for everyone in the valley really."

Viper looked on at the cubs, who all looked satisfied with their decision.

"So, what do you want to be now that you're all grown up? Heartz?"

Asked Crane, shifting in his seat and looking upon the three tigers, Heartz especially.

"I don't know, I could be anything."

"You're smart, you read a lot on the law honey."

Cooed Tigress, giving him some direction.

"I could be constable when dad's done."

"I can't pass it down, you'd need to run, it's an elected post you know."

"I'd win."

Heartz was sure of himself, and rightfully so. He knew the law and moral responsibility, he understood laws of different kinds of governments that weren't popular anywhere. Heartz understood people and their situations, comprehending how to maintain a village. At this point, constable was less an officer of the law, and more a mayor or the valley, overseeing everything. Heartz would make a good mayor.

"We all know what 'stanze is, our warrior."

Said Tigress, glowing at her oldest daughter.

"She's just like you."

Said Tigress to Jay.

"She's like you too."

Said Jay to Tigress.

"She's a product of two warriors."

Added Viper, ending their cute banter.

"Proud of it."

Added Constanze, blushing for a moment before concealing her pride.

"I'll make a good house wife."

Said Theresia with a louder blush and a smile, slinking down into her chair.

"No! You're an excellent teacher, sweet enough to deal with little kids at the school, or maybe even the orphanage."

"I'd like that, being a caretaker at the orphanage."

Jay squeezed Tigress' thigh under the table, letting her know everything was fine. She always tensed up when she heard about that place, even though it was hers, she still didn't feel entirely comfortable.

As Master Shifu, Crane, and Viper were getting ready to leave, Constanze said her goodbyes and quickly disappeared. She tracked up the stairs to the second floor, going into her brother's room and closing the door behind her. It was a big room, large enough for the massive bed, sitting area around a fireplace, and a dedicated area for a desk and chairs. Constanze rushed silently over to the the desk, pulling open some of the drawers, trying to fine dirt on him. If she could find something secret of Heartz's, then she could use it to get out of reading one of his sappy smut books. Inside of the top drawer was a large stack of papers, she pulled it out, flipping thought it. There were at least two hundred pages of handwritten work, small loopy characters littering each page in straight uniform lines. Reading a little of it Constanze smiled.

"It's a book, he's writing his own type of smut."

She took the pages, picking them up in her paw. The top page and bottom page gripped firmly in her paws, but the pages between fell to the ground in a wavy heap, scattering everywhere, fluttering to the floor in disorder. Constanze didn't know what to do. She had the cover and the back page, but nothing on the inside.

"Karma isn't nice to those who snoop."

Constanze jumped back, scared to death when her brother came into the room, leaning against the door frame and looking at her disapprovingly.

"I'm..."

"You're lucky I number my pages, pick it up, and don't ruffle the sheets, that's linen."

"Alright."

"Oh, and since you seem so interested in that story, I think you should read it. It's not quite done, but you'll make do. Have this cleaned up before dad sees."

Constanze nodded shyly, bending over and starting to pick up the pages carefully, she'd organize them later.

Downstairs, Theresia was walking outside. It was getting dark, but she wanted to enjoy the cool spring air, it's feeling, it's smell, she enjoyed gestures of nature. Inside the house, Jay and Tigress were in a wrestling match of sorts, seeing how long they could kiss each other in the atrium before someone found them. After another hour of everyone situating themselves, Tigress was lying in bed, waiting for her thunder. Jay on the other hand was writing a letter to his old friend Lord Shen. They had written each other previously, and the peacock was aware of Jay's situation concerning his military career, and also the tigers ventures into village and family life. Once the scroll was completely written, Jay rolled it up and sealed it, leaving it on his desk so he wouldn't forget it the next day when he went to the newer, larger constable station to do his job as constable.

Heartz was in bed, considering his love of romanticism. Quite possibly he longed to have what he read about, knowing that utopia didn't truly exist anyway. He didn't want much, just a girlfriend. She didn't even have to want to marry him, just a girlfriend to have fun with and kiss and hold. He'd give it a try, there weren't any big cats in the village, but the next girl his age he'd pounce on for sure.

Theresia was also lying in bed, contemplating her future. She wanted to protect people, but her girly ways didn't bare the strength required. Inside of her head she could see bouncing orphans, moderately happy and all surrounding her for help, guidance, advice, a motherly figure.

Constanze had finished rearranging her brother's book so it was in the right order, and she considered reading it. Starring at it as if it were the devil, temptation soon over came her and she started to read. Her sister had said maybe if they read some of his books, they'd be better at having lively conversation with him. Maybe, if she read a book he had written, she would understand him completely.

Tigress and Jay on the other hand understood each other completely. They knew what the other hated, feared, wanted, needed, loved, what made them smile and what turned the other on. Eighteen years of being together, three cubs, yet the love making was as if she were still in her early twenties. It was a good thing the walls of their house were made of stone, thick and dark, because Tigress was still rather loud in bed, and they found it deplorable to be busted by their offspring every time one of them got an itch for thunder.

That night, five tigers drifted off into sleep, all thinking (or doing) different things (or people) but one aspect was clear, in their future, their would be fireworks.

Don't forget to R&R (Rate & Review) for Herr Regis!