A.N: Sorry for the long wait, but I hope you like this chapter. Please review, and I hope some of you join the contest :)
It was the middle of the night, the sky was a perfect shade of dark blue, the millions of stars shined brightly, and the moon was full. At the small campsite there were six tents, all of them had someone sleeping inside each, except for one.
A figure stepped out of the tent, and looked up at the sky, 'How can something so serene bring back horrible memories?' The figure thought.
The figure started to walk, and within a few minutes found a small lake. The moon was shining bright on the lake, there was many lily pads and flowers floating on it, which made it look beautiful. As the figure walked closer to the lake, it was clear to that it was a female tiger.
She sat on her knees, scooped some water in her paws, and lightly splashed it on her face. Then she heard rustling leaves behind her. The tigress opened her golden yellow eyes, and got into a stance facing the spot where she heard the rustling.
Her ears twitched as the sound came closer, she bent to low to the ground. She waited until whatever was approaching got close enough, then she pounced.
She pinned whoever it was to the ground, "Ahh! It's me, don't punch!" The poor victim said.
The tigress saw that it was a familiar male tiger, "Why are you awake?" She asked getting of him.
He stood up and dusted himself off, "I could ask you the same thing," he said, "Is something wrong?"
"I just couldn't sleep," the tigress said, turning away from him, and facing the lake.
"Beautiful isn't it?" He said admiring the lake, the tigress nodded, and sat down on the edge of the lake.
"It's nice," she simply said
"Have something on your mind?" He asked sitting next to her.
"Just thinking," she said
"Do you wanna talk about it?" The male tiger asked facing her.
The tigress was still facing the lake, "No, it's not important,"
The tiger still wasn't convinced, but he let it go for now. He scooped some water in his paws and rubbed it on his face.
"Alright," he said getting up, "It'll be a long day tomorrow, we should try to get some sleep. You coming?"
"In a minute," the tigress said, still facing the lake.
The tiger took one last glance at her, then walked away. The tigress looked over her shoulder make sure he was gone, then took something out of her pocket. It was a faded picture of four tigers, a male tiger, a female tiger next to him holding a tiger cub, and another tiger cub, no older than five, holding the male tiger's paw.
The tigress traced her finger on the youngest tiger cub in the picture, "Don't worry Meiying, we'll be reunited soon."
~Morning~
It was a good morning at the Valley of Peace, four stores opening, three men working, two mothers cooking, and one panda snoring.
The gong had just sounded, and each of the five was standing out of their rooms to greet their Master. Shifu walked to Po's door and knocked, no answer, he knocked again, and no answer. He opened Po's bedroom door, and saw the Po was laying on his stomach drooling.
"Hey dumplings can't talk," Po mumbled in his sleep.
Shifu had enough, "PANDA WAKE UP!"
Po shot his eyes open, and sat up, "I'm up-" he said but falling of his bed in a crash, "I'm down."
"Panda of all days you had to wake up late, why chose today?" Shifu said "You know how important today is."
"Right, sorry Shi- Master," Po said standing up.
Shifu shook his head and turned his attention to the five, who were waiting at the door, "I don't want any foolishness today," he turned to Po, "Especially from you Po."
Po decided to ask, "How come you never say 'especially from you Crane' or-"
"Enough, I don't have time for this, start your morning training then meet me in the courtyard. Are we clear?" Shifu asked
"Yes Master," the students in unison.
~Later~
It was a little after noon, Po and the five had just finished there morning training, and they were lined up in front of Shifu.
"Masters Chao, Ox, and Croc should be here any minute, and the students from the Emerald Palace should arrive a short time later. They will also be arriving with Master Snow Leopard. So I want all of you to show respect to our guests- Po are you listening?" Shifu asked
His question literally woke Po up, "Yeah got it, be nice, and stuff."
"Panda try not to-" Shifu was cut off by the doors opening, revealing Chao, Ox, and Croc.
"Try not to what?" Chao asked referring to Shifu's question.
"Forgive me Masters, welcome to the Jade Palace, I hope you enjoy your stay," Shifu said
The three masters walked next to Shifu as the doors closed, "I'm sure we will," Ox said "When will your students from the Emerald Temple be arriving?"
"Very soon, Snow Leopard is also arriving with them," Shifu said
"Snow?" Chao said "I haven't seen her in years, how did you convince her to come?"
"I didn't," Shifu said "I'm guessing that she wants to come on her own will."
"Perhaps," Ox said
"Maybe one of the students convinced her," Po said
"Dragon Warrior great to see you again," Croc said
"You too Master Croc, but call me Po," Po said
"Who are the students anyway? I mean I know their names and stuff, I just don't know what they are," Mantis said
"Yeah, I was thinking that too," Viper said
"You'll see when they get here," Shifu said
"With these students coming you'll have eleven students. Do you think you can handle that?" Chao asked Shifu.
"Of course I can, it may be a handful with eleven, but Snow has offered to come back to the palace and help," Shifu said
"If you say so, but if Snow is with them she'll probably want them to have a little fun," Chao said, "What did she used to call you 'stick in the mud'? Or was it 'wet blanket' ?"
"She calls him that too?" Mantis whispered
"She would never call me anything like that," Shifu said
"Well, I'm just excited that we-" Po was cut off by the doors opening revealing Zeng.
"Master Shifu, they're about to arrive," Zeng said almost out of breath.
Shifu turned to Po and the five, "Remember what I told you," then turned to the door. Then the five students walked threw the door, including Master Snow Leopard.
First was a male raccoon, with black and grey fur, wearing a white shirt and green pants, and had brown eyes. Second was a male owl, with brown, white, and beige feathers, wearing a brown shirt and red pants, and had brown eyes. Next was a female snow leopard, wearing a purple shirt with light blue flower designs and brown pants, and she had blue eyes.
Then was a male tiger, wearing a green shirt and dark grey pants, and had yellow green eyes. Finally a female tiger, wearing a dark teal shirt with silver vine designs, black pants, dark teal gloves, and had golden yellow eyes.
"Snow Leopard, it's been so long," Chao said as he, Shifu, Ox, and Croc bowed.
"Oh please Chao, you could still call me Snow," Snow said bowing back, "Good to see you all again," she looked at Shifu, "and it's great to see my favorite stick in the mud."
"I knew it," Chao said
"Ha ha ha," Shifu said rolling his eyes, "How was the trip?"
"Oh it was fine, until we ran into some bandits who started to hit on Shadow," Snow explained "Let's just say they won't be walking for a while."
"Oh yes, these are the students?" Croc asked observing the five strangers behind Snow.
"Oh yes," Snow said, "Shifu I suppose you'd like to introduce them?"
"Certainly," Shifu said walking to the five students, "Students please welcome the students of the Emerald Palace," he gestured his arm as he said their names, "Rui, Zhao, Qiànru, Jiang, and Shadow."
"Shadow hmm? Why do they call you that?" Po asked
"Because Shadow is my name," Shadow, the female tiger replied
"Oh, I thought it was a weird nickname- not that I think your name is weird or anything, it's- uh I- uh... I'll shut up now," Po said as Shadow gave him a stern glare.
"You must be the Dragon Warrior," Jiang, the male tiger said
"Sure am," Po said
"You must be Jiang," Crane said
"That's me, it's a pleasure to meet you both," Jiang said
"Hi I'm Viper," Viper said slithering up to Qiànru, the snow leopardess.
"Nice to meet you Viper, I'm Qiànru," Qiànru said
"Are you wearing makeup?" Viper asked
"Yeah, why are we not allowed to?" Qiànru asked
"No, it's just that Tigress and I were the only girls here for years, and I could never get her to wear anything makeup related," Viper explained
"Tell me about it, Shadow is the same way," Qiànru said
Monkey walked over to Rui and Zhao with Mantis on his shoulder, "Hey guys I'm Monkey and this is Mantis."
"Good to meet ya, I'd tell you our names, but Shifu just said them," Rui, the raccoon said
"Since your newbies here, we're gonna have to pull a welcoming prank on ya," Mantis said
"Wait, you guys do pranks?" Zhao, the owl asked
"Sure do," Mantis said
"We do pranks to!" Rui said
"What kind?" Monkey asked
"Like putting Jiang in a dress when he was sleeping, and leaving him outside for everyone to see," Zhao said with a smirk.
"Don't talk about that!" Jiang shouted over to them.
Monkey and Mantis eyed each other, then glanced back at Rui and Zhao, "My brothers!" They both shouted
"Welcome to the Jade Palace Master Shadow," Tigress said bowing.
"There is no need to call me Master or to bow to me," Shadow said, "After all we have the same title."
"Seems like they're getting along," Snow said as she, Shifu, Chao, Ox, and Croc observed from a few yards away.
"Maybe we should see how they do in the training hall together," Shifu suggested
"Are you kidding? We just got here from a long journey, and you want them to train?" Snow asked
"You're right, we should get them studying the scrolls," Shifu said
Snow lightly smacked him on the back of his head, "Don't be such a stick in the mud, we should let them get to bond with one another," She explained
"And how are they going to do that exactly?" Shifu asked
"I don't know, let them play a game or-"
"That's an awesome idea!" Po shouted interrupting Snow.
"I guess we could give it a try," Viper said
"Aren't we a little too grown up for games?" Crane asked
"It doesn't have to be a little kids game it could be..." Po thought for a second, "Hide and seek!"
"That's a kids game," Mantis said
"What about truth or dare? You're never too old for that, right Master Shifu?" Rui asked cockily
Shifu glared at Rui, then at Snow, who tried to not laugh, "Did you tell him to say that?" He asked her.
"I wish I had," Snow said
"Masters, croc bandits in the village!" Zeng shouted as he flew in the courtyard.
"The game will have to wait," Snow said "Shadow, Zhao go!" Shadow got on all fours and started running, and Zhao flew with her.
"Po, Tigress, Crane go with them," Shifu ordered, then three speed after the other two.
A.N: I hoped you liked it! No Master Yao in this story, but at least I got Snow Leopard. I've never seen the first five episode in English, only in Spanish which I don't speak, so I don't know how she is. Please review!
Question of the Day: If you watch The Simpsons, then What is your favorite Simpsons episode?
