Disclaimer: I own the OCs, not Kung Fu Panda.

Here's Ming's shuffle, because everyone (including myself) believes she deserves one. Please read and review, I love hearing your feedback!

Chapter 10: Ming Hua

"Lovesick" by TLC

"He's cute."

"So cute. You should make a move."

"Don't be ridiculous! Women don't make a move, men do."

"Ming, lets be serious here. He's as handsome a tiger as you will ever find…"

Ming sent her friend a look, waiting for it…

"…And he's not Jiao Shen," Nima finished.

"How did I know you would bring that up? Besides, even if that handsome tiger were to fall for me and propose, Shen would quickly make me a widow…"

"Not if Auntie or I had any say in the matter," Nima said scathingly. "With all due respect to your family, Jiao Shen can rot in hell."

"I need to respect my family's wishes."

"Nothing is set in stone, yet. You still have the right as a master of the Lotus style to refuse."

"I am no master, Nima, you are."

"Hardly! I'm not yet twenty, and Auntie would not bestow that honor. You are nineteen years old—Shen's, what, ten years your senior? Ew!" she made a disgusted face.

"Maybe he's not as bad as we think…"

"With his rap sheet?" Nima suggested.

Ming sighed; she knew his reputation as well as anyone, and his family's reputation as well. As much as she wished to uphold her parents' wishes…she wasn't sure if that was what her heart wanted.

"Humane" by Lacuna Coil

How could he do this to her? Had he no decency? Ming Hua sighed, knowing that this had to be true. What man would threaten her in such a way, to destroy everything she held dear, just to get her to comply? He was a brute, he was a savage, despicable monster…and she was going to marry him.

She wanted to cry, she wanted to break down, she was dangerously close to stealing that knife hanging from his belt and plunging it into her heart. But his grip on her wrist was far too strong, and she doubted he would keep his word to bring no harm to her friends, her family, and the entire Lotus school if she killed herself.

She saw the looks on Wu Lien and Nima's faces; they could never forgive her for this. If only they knew her reasons! As much as it disgusted her, she had to marry him, and she had to bear his children!

If Jiao Shen had any humanity, he would never have forced her to become Jiao Ming Hua.

"The Power of Love" by Celine Dion

She wanted to kill him. Even as she dressed into her red wedding attire, the fact alone that Nima wasn't coming—wasn't even invited—cut her deeper than any blade. Shen knew how important Nima was to her, but had completely denied her one wish.

And she was expected to sleep with him that night.

She made a disgusted face. Over her dead body. She secretly wished that would happen. At least she could avoid this fate.

But now it was too late, as she was being led to the palanquin to take her to his tent, and their wedding bed. The wedding was little more than her arriving to his home, being formally accepted by his family, then led to their wedding tent—not chamber, tent—then being left alone with him. That was it.

The "ceremony" was over far too soon, and she was left alone with him. At this point, she didn't care what he thought of her and her attitude.

"At least try to be happy," he said.

"You can go to hell, and fuck yourself along the way," she snapped. He just chuckled. When she looked up at him, he was genuinely smiling in a way she'd never seen. He pressed his palm against her cheek. "And you wonder why I love you?" he asked.

"Barenaked" by Jennifer Love Hewitt

She hated to admit it, she really did…but Shang was absolutely beautiful. When she held her baby in her arms, her intense hatred of her husband melted. It didn't seem possible to her, how he could sire a son who looked so much like him, yet was so beautiful in her eyes, and that was not a mother's predisposition!

Even more surprising was how Shen…changed. Before she had thought him utterly despicable, and hated him for impregnating her. As soon as their son was born, she…how could it be? When had she started to tolerate him? Was she falling in love with him?

He brought her flowers, little gifts here and there. And he doted on his son as much as he doted on her.

She'd heard how some couples disliked each other after an arranged marriage, but as soon as they had children, everything was better. She had doubted that; but as she looked into her son's face, she wondered if, maybe, what people said was true after all…

"Blood (Empty Promises)" by Papa Roach

"How dare you…how dare you lie to me!" she roared. Shen actually looked pale; in seven years of marriage, he could count the number of times she had been truly angry on one hand. This time, though, was the first time her anger was directed at him. "You knew since that winter that she was dead, and you never told me?! And now both her husband and her son—her SON!—are dead?! What the fuck did you do?!"

"I had nothing to do with her death—she died of a fever!" he shouted.

"And you never thought to tell me?!"

"I was trying to protect you!"

She struck him, raking her claws over the left side of his face. Though he was bleeding, he stared at her; she had never struck him, and he didn't think she'd ever dare to. But she was pissed, so he didn't blame her; she had reason to be mad at him.

"Those boys out there?" she pointed. "That's all you're getting out of me. We're done." Unfortunately for her, within the next three years, she would give birth to the twins, and to Dalang.

"There's Gotta Be More to Life" by Stacie Orrico

"Ming?"

That voice; she knew that voice! Ming whirled, and grinned. "NIMA!" she ran to her old friend, embracing her. Despite her fear of death, and that Nima would push her away, she found her returning the hug. "But what are you doing here?"

"I thought you knew I was dead?"

"I didn't, until Shen told me. What's going on, now?"

"I'm welcoming you to the afterlife…which reminds me, we have much to catch up on…"

"Like?"

Nima smiled and led her to a platform that overlooked the earth. Ming saw with wide eyes a beautiful valley nestled between tall mountains, and a gorgeous palace…

"That's the Jade Palace, home of Master Oogway…and if you look closer…" Nima pointed, and Ming saw a young snow leopard, about Shang's age, practicing kung fu in a courtyard with a red panda. The tigress knew who he was immediately. She smiled at her friend, "Oh Nima…your son, he's just as handsome as I expected."

Nima smiled and hugged her again, "And I can say the same for all seven of your boys."

"Disturbia" by Rihanna

"Um, I hate to take back what I said a couple years ago…" Nima said slowly, "But I really need to admit, the only one I have hope for is your youngest…"

Ming shook her head as she watched her family from Heaven. "To think, I thought Shen couldn't have loved me. Yet there he is, still mourning…and now he's turned our sons into monsters. At least Shang has kept some humanity…"

"He's protective of his youngest brother, I'll give him that."

"And thank Heaven for that; at least Dalang can turn out normal…find a nice girl, raise a family far away from Shen…"

"Who knows, maybe he will," Nima shrugged.

"I wonder if I had lived, if things would be different."

Nima snorted, "Doubtful."

Ming still had to wonder as she watched six older sons turn into mere shadows of the boys she had left behind, whether any of them still had a chance at redemption.

"Saving Me" by Nickelback

"You know, I really do hate to say it…"

Nima sighed, slapping a hand to her forehead, "Don't bother…"

"No, really, he has your temper."

"Tenzin's supposed to take after his father, though."

"You can see how well that worked out," Ming said, sweeping her hand over the Valley of Peace. "Tai Lung could have handled that rejection better…"

"His name is Tenzin, and I'll thank you to remember that…"

"Nima, he was only Tenzin for a year, and he's been Tai Lung for seventeen years; I think its time to start calling him that…"

"If Dalang had changed his name, you'd still call him Dalang."

"Well, maybe. It would be an adjustment." Ming smiled, "But I'm glad he's with someone we can both trust."

Nima smirked, "Who'd have thought Auntie would find him? You think she knows?"

"Of course she does—he's got my eyes after all." There was a pause between them before Ming hugged her friend. "I know seeing your boy in prison is hard…"

Nima shook her head, "You have no idea."

"It's Not Over" by Daughtry

Ming was speechless, utterly speechless. She and Nima had gone to check on Tai Lung in Chor-Ghom, and instantly regretted it when they saw what was going on. Nima had shrieked like a dying animal, wishing like mad that she could strike and kill those rhinos, especially Vachir, for what they were doing to her boy. Ming had to pull her away when she realized that Nima's fists were passing right through the rhinos' bodies, and all the guards felt was a slight chill at feeling a ghost's angry strikes.

The females could do little more than avert their eyes, but it did little to block out Tai Lung's screams. Tears fell freely from Nima's eyes as she collapsed into Ming's arms, utterly heartbroken and damaged. But never as damaged as her son would be.

Ming comforted her friend the best she could, trying anything to close her mind from hearing the despicable act. When it was mercifully over, Nima finally raised her eyes; Ming held her close, and both females walked towards Tai Lung. They were invisible to him, but Nima didn't care. She collapsed in front of him, wrapping her arms around his neck and adding her own tears to his.

Ming sighed, holding back. As much as it tore at her heart to see her friend suffering so, there was nothing she could do.

"Into the Night" by Santana (feat. Chad Kroger)

Ming stood with her son, sighing. Shang hugged her, turning to the gateway. "Don't worry, Mother, you'll still be able to see me. And you still have Aunt Nima with you." Ming smiled; since Shang had joined them, he'd begun calling her best friend "Aunt", just as she had always hoped would happen. But now that her son was leaving so soon, it did little consolation, even if it meant her first grandchild would really be her son's reincarnation. Ming was proud of Dalang for his transformation, and as for Tigress, well, Ming Hua absolutely adored her daughter-in-law! This at least lessened the blow; and it helped to know that the couple's first choice of a female name was "Ming".

Nima patted her shoulder, "Remember, the gods are going over your petition…"

Ming sighed. "That could take a few years, though…"

"No more than five," she assured. "And by then, all will be right with the…" she was interrupted and blushed at the noises coming from Dalang and Tigress' marital bed. She grinned wickedly, "Ha! Well, sounds like they're having fun!" she laughed.

Shang rolled his eyes, "And there's my cue…" He hugged his mother one last time. "See you in five years."

She kissed his cheek, smiling, "Alright…I'm holding you to that promise."'

And here's Ming! Because she played such a small role, there really wasn't anyone I based her off of. I figured though that she was just as strong-willed as Nima, yet just as affectionate and loving. As some reviewers suggested, I added a couple scenes featuring her and Nima's reunion and their time in the afterlife. I had a funny scene in my mind, though, of them watching the battle between Shen, Po and Tai Lung, and cheering on the panda and snow leopard as if watching a boxing match. Funny as that would've been, I thought showing Shang's process of reincarnation would be more appropriate.