I want to make things clear that this is not a Ti/Shi *shudders* that creeps me out. The only relationship they'll ever have in this fic is father/ daughter, nothing more.

Another thing, I want to say sorry to all those Tigress fans out there for what I have done to her in the last chapter. That was horrible—it even scared me! I never thought I would write something so dark! But it has some relevance to the story so I have to include it. Again I'm terribly sorry. :(

Warning: There are probably plenty of mistakes on this story, so I want to apologize in advance. I'm still learning.

I don't own Kung Fu Panda

Moon Festival

Shifu's eyes snapped open, gasping as he returned into the world of reality. He fell off Oogway's staff, leaning back so as not to land onto the water. He clutched the staff, relying on it for support for he found it difficult to stand after experiencing that horrible nightmare.

He greedily sucked the cold air in his surroundings, a look of utter shock engraved on his countenance. Again and again, he hopelessly repeated the gesture. He did not stop. He was shaking, shaking hard. He was terrified. An emotion he hasn't felt in a very long time.

The nightmare...he saw Tigress...right in front of him. She was...it was hard to believe. It was worse than what Tai Lung had done, much, much worse. All those innocent villagers, all the blood that had been spilled, and the tragic event that was happening...was it all her doing?

Shifu violently shook his head, forcing himself to stand up. He knew for sure that Tigress would never do such a thing. Not ever. It wasn't real, it was just a dream. A dream...

He thought for a moment. Was it really a dream? Or was it a vision? If it's the latter, will it happen in the near future? Would she really—No! It's pointless burying himself in that single subject. Turn the world upside down, one thing is for sure: Tigress would NEVER do anything like that. It is beyond her personality.

Shifu steadied his breaths, trying to calm his nerves. When he managed to cool down, he stepped out of the Dragon Grotto, just in time to witness the rising sun. Golden colours painted the sky as the glorious blazing orb slowly emerged from across the horizon. A light breeze blew, slightly ruffling his fur. He breathed through his nose, relaxing his tense body.

He started down the path of moss-coated rocks, making his way towards the Jade Palace. When he looked down the village, the trees and other plants were in flames of autumn's fire. A sign that fall had finally arrived, which means the Mid-Autumn Festival is fast approaching. If he calculated correctly, there is at most three days left before the festival so it means everyone will be very busy.

He reached the Hall of Warriors where a few geese janitors were cleaning the outside. They greeted him with a bow of their heads and the usual gesture of punching their fists into their open palm, which Shifu returned with the same courtesy, and then entered the hall. He stopped as he reached the Moon Pool. He heard the morning gong, but did not greet his students. There's no need for that anymore. And he could attend to his duties later. Right now, he need some time to relax.

Meanwhile, Po and his father were up early that morning before the gong rang so they could get cooking started right away. Mr Ping spent the night in the Students' Barracks sleeping in Po's room. He was given the task of preparing moon cakes that are to be served during the festivities. Master Shifu had come to the decision that this year's Moon Festival is going to be done in the non-traditional way of the kung fu warriors. Masters from different provinces will be coming, depends on whether they are going to accept the invitation. If they do the celebration will be done informally.

Po placed a new batch of moon cakes on the table. The fresh scent of the newly baked goods made him salivate. He looked at the rounded cakes in longing, stomach gradually growl suggesting he should try one. He licked his lips and glanced sideways to see if anyone was looking, most especially his father. When no one was, Po took the opportunity of taking one moon cake but was unable to do so when a feathered hand whacked a ladle at his paw.

"Ow!" he exclaimed. He rubbed his stinging paw as he looked at the disappointed eyes of his goose father.

"That's for the Moon Festival, Po," Mr Ping scolded, pointing his wooden ladle at his son, "you should know better than to sneak one up."

"But dad," Po whined as he was still a child, "can't I just have one?"

Mr Ping returned to other cakes that were still baking, "you can have as many as you want when the festival comes," he said firmly.

"Aw, c'mon dad, just one pleeease?" Po pleaded.

Mr Ping sighed, admitting defeat, "Okay, Po, but just one! Shifu's going to be mad if he found out that I let you eat all of them."

"Yes!" Po whooped. He quickly snatched a moon cake and munched on it like a hungry boar. He swallowed loudly. One wasn't enough to completely satisfy. He had to have more! Po glanced at Mr Ping, and when he wasn't looking, he extended a paw in preparation to steal another.

"Don't even think about, Po," Mr Ping warned.

Po quickly drew his hands back, displaying the most innocent face he can manage. He made an awkward laugh before returning to help his father with the baking.

Outside, Crane and Monkey and Mantis were busy with the decorations. "Over here?" Crane called as his talons kept hold on a wire with multiple coloured lanterns hanging on it, across the Palace Arena, near the roof of one of the spectator's stand. Mantis was perched on his rice hat, waiting for his turn to help.

Monkey placed his hands over his forehead to guard his eyes against the suns bright light, examining the birds position, "A little bit to the left Crane!" he called back.

Crane flew leftwards, just as Monkey had instructed. "How's this?" Mantis said this time.

Monkey gave the two a thumbs-up, "Perfect!"

With that signal, Mantis leapt from Crane's hat and landed on the roof. He took the wire from the avian and secured it carefully on the edge of the over-hanging roof just like what he did with the other one. When he was done, he jumped back on Crane's hat and they flew back to the ground and inspected their work. It was good.

"Something tells me that this year's Moon Festival is gonna be great!" Mantis declared.

"How can you tell from the previous ones?" Crane asked.

"Instincts, Crane, instincts," Mantis said.

Crane shook his head. He stared towards the open gates ahead. "Viper and Tigress sure are taking their time," he stated. The other members of the five instinctively looked at the same direction, thinking the same.

"Thanks again for coming with me, Tigress," Viper said, turning to the tiger master as they walked through the busy streets of the village.

"No problem." Tigress smiled.

So early in the morning, the citizens were already up and about, doing their day to day jobs. Plus with the Moon Festival coming, dynamic working activity increased as everyone made preparations for the upcoming festival.

Viper had asked Tigress to accompany her on her trip down the village because there was something she was going to buy. Tigress asked her what it was and Viper simply replied it was for a family matter. The tiger was reluctant at first, unsure of what she meant, but when Viper used her power of persuasion against her, she went along in the end. And through their walk, Viper explained the whole thing, which Tigress completely understood. She led her to various shops and stands looking for that particular item, she so wanted to purchase. But so far they were unable to find it.

"Have checked here yet?" Tigress asked, pointing eastward towards a narrow road full of busy people.

"Hmm, I don't think so," Viper said. "Let's go look."

The two made their way through that part of the village. They scanned each side, keenly seeking for Viper's item. The stands there were all filled of this season's products, but none of them were what Viper was looking for. Then finally, the snake caught sight of a little stand selling different coloured fabrics, some plain, others adorned with intricate Chinese symbols.

She and Tigress approached it. The bunny managing the small business bowed in respect to the two masters, greatly honoured of their presence. They politely returned the gesture.

"Excuse me, do you have any ribbons?" Tigress asked, "One for dancing, that is."

The bunny stared at Tigress in surprise. "Why, Master Tigress, I didn't know you ribbon dance?"

"Oh no," Tigress quickly said, "It's not for me."

"Oh, I see." She nodded. She dug through the ones hidden in her bag, looking for the product they were interested in. "Hmm, let me—Ah yes, her it is." She found a 4-foot long red ribbon, its silky fabric shining in the early morning light. She showed it to the two girls.

Viper smiled. "Perfect. We'll take two, please."

The bunny fixed their order and handed them a bag with their purchases in it. "That'll be fifteen Yuan."

Tigress paid the expenses out of Vipers personal savings. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome, Masters."

So they started their way back the Jade Palace. Viper was glad to have finally found the things she was after. Tigress carried the bag since, of course, Viper has no hands to carry them by herself. The streets were still crowded with villagers just as it has been when they came down there. It made walking (slithering for Viper) difficult for them both. Tigress was worried she would bump into someone, while Viper worried on being stepped on.

All of a sudden, a grey-furred spotted feline bumped against Tigress making her let go of the bag.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" the snow leopard apologized.

Tigress waved her paw, "It's alright." She bent forward to retrieve the bag.

"Oh, no, let me." The snow leopard picked up the bag before Tigress could, and handed it over to her. "Here."

Tigress grabbed the bag. She eyed the snow leopard. It was odd; the citizens were mostly composed by geese, pigs and rabbits so seeing a new different species seemed strange. She's about her height, but she looked more feminine with her long blue dress, which brought the beauty of her golden coloured eyes, and she seemed to be about her age as well. "Thank you."

"Again, I'm really sorry. Bye!" the spotted cat bowed and then left. Tigress' gaze lingered for a while, thinking she must be new, since there had no snow leopards around the valley after Tai Lung or any other felines.

"I haven't seen her before," Viper commented. "She must be new around here."

The snow leopardess disappeared from Tigress' view; she shrugged, "Maybe. We better go before your sisters arrive," she smiled. "We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise?"

Viper smiled. "You're right."

The two kung fu masters turned towards the opposite direction and continued their way back home.

The sound of her own footsteps running at high speed was the only sound she could hear, apart from her heavy breathing. The heat the sun rendered intensified at every wasted hour. She must have to move fast, she's already lost a lot of time. She needed to go back quickly, to relay the news to her master.

The crowd in the valley made it hard for her to move quickly, especially when some of the citizens would spare a moment to look at her. Well, the valley isn't that diverse with animal species so it was likely for them to get easily fascinated by a new animal walking the village streets. The dress she was forced to wear wasn't helping either. It made running all the more difficult. But her master had said it was necessary for her to wear something non-suspicious looking so no one would suspect a thing.

Finally she arrives inside the forest, the fiery wonder of autumn leaves blocked out the suns wave of heat and, allowing only thin strips of vaporous light enter the forest floors. She searches her surroundings, her golden eyes narrowing in concentration.

"You're late," a voice said that seem to come from nowhere.

She bows her head in shame. "I'm sorry. I got a little lost in the village." She looks up and then her gaze landed unto a shadowed figure leaning against a tree's trunks, its eyes shone a brilliant sky-blue colour, staring at her with disappointment. The strips of light piercing through the forest seemed to be avoiding its form, as if afraid to reveal its true identity.

"Lost?" a harsh amusement spilled from its voice as it sounded again. "If that was the case then I wouldn't have given you the mission."

She bowed her head in shame. "Forgive me. I won't let it happen again."

The stranger's eyes narrowed in an authoritative air. "It better not. So, have you seen him?"

"No, only his adopted daughter; I bumped into her earlier, she was with a snake." She waited for the stranger to respond, hoping the reaction would be pleasant, and I wasn't long when she received it.

Its lips stretched into a devious grin, showing off its gleaming pearly fangs. "Wonderful."

Not really an exciting chapter, huh?

R&R please

Thank you!