This came to me for sometime now and I just felt that Musaki wants to celebrate his coming of age; turning 17. The one thing that he wants the most for his birthday is celebrating it with his family and friends. But...what if the Five (minus Viper) and Po compete against each other to get a better gift for Musaki? So...this is what I had in mind. With a little help from my awesome friend Joe 'Po' Navark, this story is made possible. Hope ya like!

Greatest Gift Ever

by: Terrell James

Chapter 1: Excited About Being 17

It was a typical Sunday morning in the Jade Palace where everything's peaceful and quiet all around, so much so that a certain sound of the flute comes around out of nowhere. At the top of the Sacred Peach Tree is where Musaki plays his flute, just to bring in his peaceful state of mind for a certain event that's coming his way...which is his birthday.

Though his birthday is nearly five days away, he's definitely looking forward to being older and is almost on the verge of reaching into adulthood soon.

After he got done playing with his flute, Musaki looks up at the sky and just imagined what it would've been like for his parents to see him grow up and reach a very potential age.

Musaki lets out a heavy sigh and whispered, "Mom, dad...now that I'm getting older, I feel as if I'm taking in whatever has happened in my life for the past couple of years and even though you're not here, I can still feel a part of you in my heart. I just hope you guys could see me now...17 years of age. If I hadn't have been saved by Tai Lung nearly 14 years ago, I probably wouldn't even be here...so thank you."

It definitely gave him a different perspective on what he would eventually want for his birthday...celebrating it with friends and family and just embrace life even as he grows into an adult soon.

Later as he walked towards the barracks, he walks into the kitchen where he sees the masters having their meals and Mantis looks up and immediaely hopped onto his shoulder and said, "How's it going, soon-to-be- birthday guy?"

Musaki lets out a small chuckle at this and he said, "Pretty good, I guess."

Viper lets out a smile and asked, "So, how does it feel to be 17?"

Musaki took a deep sigh of nervousness and excitement and replied, "I don't know. I mean, I've only got like a week left until I reach this potential age."

Po could amazingly see how much Musaki has grown so much over the years and he could still see the same kid that was timid and shy back when he was 13 and was first adopted to the Jade palace and he could still see that kid on his mind and for him to grow up to who he is now really made him think that he's matured a lot. He said, "Guess I'm gonna have to stop calling you Lil' Saki because you're not so little anymore."

Musaki lets out an amused sigh for that one and said, "Please don't. I'm always gonna be your Lil' Saki to you and you guys."

"So...are you thinking about what kind of gifts you want for your birthday?" asked Crane.

Musaki looked at Crane in the eye and he said, "Not really. I don't think it would matter what kind of gifts I would actually want."

That remark shocked the masters to the full extent as if Musaki cursed them out for the first time and shouted, "WHAT?"

"Saki...are you saying that you don't want any gifts this year?" asked Monkey, in a shocked yet surprised tone.

Musaki was hesitant to respond back to it and he only said, "I didn't say that exactly. All I'm saying is that I just don't want to make a big deal about what I want for my birthday."

"But you're nearly 17! You should be able to get some awesome gifts that other 17-year olds would want!" Po exclaimed.

"It's not that you guys should do anything for me. I just don't want you to...you know, overdo it."

Viper looked at Musaki for a second and said, "We would never overdo anything special on your special day."

"I know you wouldn't and I know Crane wouldn't either. Everyone else...not so sure."

Just then, Shifu comes in the kitchen and he said, "Musaki, may I see you for a moment, please?"

"Sure."

Musaki got up from the table and went with Shifu for a little talk, leaving the others planning to think about gifts for Musaki. Po was the first one to say, "We have got to think of something for to get for Lil' Saki."

"I thought you said that you'd stop calling him that." Tigress added.

Po rolled his eyes at her and said, "Not helping if you're gonna remember everything I say. I'm thinking about giving him my Kwan the unkillable lunchbox with authenic old milk smell."

Monkey groans in disgust about that thought and he said, "What, you want him to go into an early grave with old milk smell? Besides, he has never even heard of Kwan before."

Po gasped in horror thinking about that and he said, "I'll take him to a Kwan show then. Maybe then, he'll be a fan of him and I'll convince him to sign his belly."

"Oh...no way. Not gonna happen, Po. I still have nightmares about that Bai Li...with the nose." Crane shuddered.

Viper rolled her eyes at Crane's worriness and said, "And yet you still think her eyes are attractive."

"Hey, it was my first attempt at true love." Crane argued.

"You got any bright ideas, Crane?" asked Po.

Crane thought about it for a second and he said, "I'll give him a calligraphy art kit."

Monkey yawns at that idea and said in a singsong-y voice, "Bor-ing."

Crane quickly glared at Monkey, as if he was offended by that remark and said, "Calligraphy is not boring. It's creative, relaxing and helps you learn chinese symbols."

"Which is still boring."

Crane scoffs at him and said, "What do you know about good art? And if you're so smart, you think of something."

Monkey stood on the table and said, "Okay...the perfect gift for Musaki would be...a full prank collection! Mounds and mounds and mounds of perfect pranks to trick even the most unsuspecting victim...for example, if I were to place a spider on top of Tigress' head, thinking it's a real one, she'd flip out."

"Yeah, I don't think Musaki would go for that one." Viper added.

"Plus, if you even plan to use that trick, the joke will be on you when you spar with me for a full month." Tigress snarled, with much venom as she could mound on.

Monkey shook his head at her and said, "Can't even take a joke. And I suppose you know a better present."

"As a matter of fact, I do. I'll just give him some fresh clothes." Tigress said.

The reaction in the room as a certain glare that reads 'really?' when she came up with that idea and Mantis asked, "Just clothes? That's it?"

"Yeah." Tigress replied.

Mantis groans in disgust and then said, "The better present I would give to Lil' Saki is an acupuncture kit. Perfect way to teach himself the art of acupuncture and maybe use it on anyway that needs to find their facial nerve."

"You do know Musaki hates needles, right?" asked Po.

"Eh, he'll outgrow it."

Viper sighed at this and she said, "Honestly, in all respects, does it really matter who's present Musaki would like is better?"

"Yes!" they all exclaimed.

Viper felt like this was gonna turn ugly at any moment and she said, "You guys can count me out of this one."

She quickly slithered up out of here but not before Mantis asked, "So what are you thinking of getting Musaki for his birthday present?"

She quickly turned to him and said, "What I'm getting him is my own biz."

Po whistles at that remark Viper said and told him, "Viper, one...Mantis, zip...which is which all of your scores will be when I give Musaki the best present he'll ever have."

Monkey stands up and said, "I disagree with that. I'll give him the better present."

"And me too!" Mantis added.

"I'm sensing a challenge coming in and I would be glad to participate because come next week, I'll give Musaki a present that will be way better than yours!" Tigress exclaimed.

"You're on!" they all exclaimed.

Awesome beginning, huh? Next, Shifu discusses coming of age with Musaki. Hope ya enjoy it because this is only the beginning.