Chapter 22

"AJ said her first mommy lives in the city. Her name isn't Nuwa- it's Luna."

Zao's words echoed inside his head long after the child was asked to leave the room. The excuse wasn't too important to remember, but Jasmine made sure it was long enough to keep the child busy, and for the grown-ups to talk properly. "Tai?" The cat blinked slowly, noticing Po, Shang and Jasmine standing on the other side of the table, watching him quietly. "Are you okay?" He didn't speak; he just got up and looked outside the window, arms folded tightly across his chest.

"Po..." Jasmine looked down at Po. "Who is Luna?" Her voice was barely a whisper; she didn't see the point in it being hushed.

"That's Sapphire's biological mother..." Po glanced at Tai Lung briefly throughout his response. "Sapphire's never met her before... til now, obviously."

"I see." Shang listened intently, before furrowing his brows together. "Had she always been in the city?"

"I think so..."

A frown soon hung heavily on the tiger's face. "Then why haven't they met before?"

"Because I wanted to keep her safe."

"Huh?" All three watched Tai Lung turn back to face them. His arms were still crossed while doing so, but looser than what they were before.

"What do you mean?" Shang pressed on.

"It's... complicated." Tai Lung's head leaned back far enough to let his eyes stare up at the ceiling. "Luna and I have been meeting in secret, and asked me if she could see Sapphire again." That doesn't sound too complicated. "She wanted her daughter back. She wanted us back." Po pursed his lips. "I made it clear I had no intentions being with her again, but if Sapphire wished to meet her, then it was fine by me, and Luna agreed. But when I informed her what Sapphire had told me the night before, she didn't believe me."

Jasmine narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Tai Lung told them about the night of AJ's 100th day. "Sapphire confided in me that she didn't want to live in the Valley- because Luna could come find her. Traveling with Nuwa was easy to keep control of her trail. She wasn't ready to meet Luna, and I told her this, but she refused to believe a word of it; she has it in her head I'm saying this just to push her away, and that I only wanted Sapphire for myself..." He looked back at them, moving one arm so he could scratch the back of his neck. "The thing is, Sapphire doesn't know we're in contact. That is, if Luna hasn't told her anything now." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I spoke to Sapphire about it again, with Luna at close range to hear the whole conversation. Sapphire said it clearly that she wasn't ready..."

"I don't understand why you're asking me this again..." he couldn't give it away. She didn't need to know yet.

"I.. may have had too much to drink last night." He said shamefully, to which she laughed at. "I just couldn't remember your answer, that's all."

"Luna met me at the Peach Tree that night, outraged. Accusing me of plotting the whole the conversation. That I'm planting those words inside her head, holding her daughter hostage, and wanted to deprive her of knowing her real mother." He continued on, to which Shang and Jasmine listened in disbelief, while Po watched with a piteous look on his face. "I told her to leave, and I would let her know when Sapphire was ready to meet her."

"And then what happened?"

"I never really saw her again after that." Tai turned back to the window, to let the sun ray hit his face. "Honestly I thought she gave up. The last thing she said was merely an empty threat-" he stopped before another word could leave his mouth.

Po rose from his seat slowly. "What... threat?" Jasmine and Shang glanced at one another, a little weirded out by his reaction. Tai Lung and Po stared at each other. "What threat, Tai?"

He watched as the leopard's nostrils enlarged. It was a weak attempt to keep his patience in line- something he had accustomed himself to for years. After every meeting that renewed his promise to never walk astray. To never let Sapphire down, to let Po down, to let Tigress, Shifu, the kids... everyone down by going back to the way he was before. The burden took a toll, but he was sure not to let anyone see it; maybe that's why he didn't fight his eventual arrest... and for what cause. exactly? He didn't do anything wrong...

"She promised to make my life a living hell." Tai Lung finally growled deeply.

"Maybe this was her plan all along!" Why didn't he think about that before?! "She must of had something to do with it, if not all of it."

Shang just held his head in confusion as Jasmine moved away from her husband's side. "If that's the case, there is no way she could have done it all alone...are you sure?"

"Who else would it be?" Tai Lung didn't mean to snap, but his mind didn't give him enough time to apologize; instead, he tried to keep calm and started pacing to room. "It all makes sense now. Woo got involved somehow; she could have gotten all the blame planted on him, or he was in on it, and wanted me gone too." Not to mention ending up going to jail, the poor fool.

"It's a long shot, but they must of collaborated." Both panda and leopard applauded Shang's theory with a simple nod. "There is a reason for both of them to be in on it." Turning on his heel, he began his exit. "I'll write to Tigress-"

"Don't do that." Jasmine said hastily. "If Luna is involved, and around the palace, the scroll could get into her paws... what if that's the reason why Tigress hasn't responded? She's never gone this long without writing back, especially after urgent letters." Po felt his chest tighten painfully. Could that be true? Could his family still be grieving for his supposed death? "What if she withheld the scroll from her?"

"You're right..." Shang's left paw settled against the side of his head. "So what are we going to do?" He noticed a blur moving towards him, and turned to see Tai Lung on the move. "What are you doing?" He had a decent idea what, and immediately felt stupid for asking.

"What should've been done as soon as we woke up." The snow leopard turned to Po, who nodded firmly. "We're going home. Now."

Back in the Valley...

When Sapphire reopened her eyes, she was staring up at the ceiling. Another day had passed her, although it felt like a month, maybe even a year since she stood in the world of yesterday.

Jun and Lok were there too, not really saying anything to her; and that was because she was trying to catch up on sleep. They had been there, sitting beside her and watching her for any movement throughout her sleep, but given the time she was out, they soon moved away, and were now sitting across one another by the coffee table, drinking tea and gazing off into space.

"Has your mother done anything about the letter?" Lok was asking while pouring the two of them another cup. Sapphire's eyes rolled to the back of her head, before blinking and looking back up at the void above her.

"That I know of? No." He replied defeatedly. "But she seemed a little... speechless."

"You're telling me."

Jun took a soft sip. "I tried asking her about it earlier, but she would only change the subject. I think she's still trying to take it in."

"I guess so." Lok sighed heavily. "I wonder how Luna Lao is taking it."

"She didn't look happy anyway, but how is that my Mother's fault?" They heard something stirring behind them, and both automatically turned to see Sapphire sitting up. "Hey sis..."

"To answer your question." She ignored his greeting. Once her back was straightened, she started rubbing her face. "It's not Mom's fault... it's mine." Jun pulled a questioning face. "I didn't stop her from opening it, now she's confused by it all, and Luna's hurt."

Lok got up and sat down on the bed beside her. He laced his arm around her shoulder, before pulling her into a hug. "It's not your fault. It wasn't addressed to her, and she shouldn't of opened it- she's the one at fault." It sure as hell didn't feel like it. "You told her not to open it, didn't you?" That was... somewhat true.

"Everything just feels out of place right now." Jun got up and started pacing the room. "We're all trying to comes to terms with Tai Lung and Po being gone, as are the Masters. I think everything's just moving too fast. You need time to grieve... maybe it was too soon to go through his things?"

Sapphire shook her head. "I felt ready, and I got what I wanted- even if they were only minor things, but I feel... eerily calm right now." Her eyes rolled up towards the ceiling again once Jun stood in front of the window to open the shutters. They had been basking in semi-darkness to let her catch up on some sleep. There was a few lanterns that had been lit, but Jun had yet to put them out. "Not sure how long it will last though."

Jun frowned. "My guess is that it'll end in a few moments." Sapphire got up to see what he meant by it, letting Lok's arm slip away and sag to his side. Wandering over to the window, she looked down to see Nuwa walking towards the Inn; she was staying there with them of course... however, she wasn't on her own; villagers flocked her sides, their voices rising like a high tide, almost pushing each other out of the try in an attempt to talk to her. Judging by Nuwa's expression, she was in no humor to talk (which was rare for her), but it didn't stop the villagers from heckling her. She was trying her best to get away, but their noise was getting too much; soon enough, her head was in her paws.

"Madam! Care to comment about the shocking discovery of Master Tai Lung's interest in you?" Sapphire could feel the color draining from her face, while Jun pinched the bridge of his nose. "Is there the possibility that you knew about this before?"

Nuwa's paws fell away from her head, before turning and hardening her gaze on the interrogator. "Absolutely not. I never had a-"

"Is it true that his letter expanded into three other scrolls?" Another interrupted. "Could you both have been dating in secret, not wanting Sapphire to know?"

"We better get down there." Sapphire spoke as she turned on her heels and run out the door. Jun and Lok weren't far behind her, with Jun hot on her trail and Lok leaping from the bed. When they got outside, they watched as Nuwa reached the door, arms stretched out to push the doors open. She jumped back in surprise, oblivious to their entrance (or exit... whichever way you look at it). Jun reached out to grab her extended arm, and pulled her behind him.

"Get back!" Jun growled warningly as he turned back to face the crowd. The villagers mumbled amongst themselves as Nuwa moved further behind her son, and stood inside the door, massaging her temples.

Sapphire leaned in to place a paw gently on her cheek. "Mom, are you okay?" Nuwa nodded, and muttered something about needing to sit down.

"I'll take her to the room." Lok spoke gently, before taking Nuwa by the paw, asking her if she needed a cup of tea as they disappeared upstairs. Sapphire watched them leave, feeling a little stung. It wasn't normal for Nuwa to be so passive... and she couldn't help but feel like it was her fault... until she heard the villagers echoing behind her, and Jun telling them to back off (although he was using much more colorful language). For once, she was going to stop blaming herself- even if it was just for a moment. Nuwa's suffering wasn't her fault; someone had gotten word about her Father's letter out. Something that was personal and private to her adopted mother was exposed without her knowing, and she was being punished for something that wasn't in her control? Sapphire wasn't having it; and whoever it was would be sorry they were ever born.

Jun almost didn't notice Sapphire standing beside him just she snarled. "This is ridiculous!" Everyone turned to look at her. "I'm going to being very frank with you all. Whatever is going on is NONE of your business. I demand to know-"

Sapphire soon grew to regret opening her mouth, or even making her presence known; within a heartbeat, everyone was interrupting her:

"Sapphire! Did you have any idea about the letter?"

More questions surrounding that topic floated about, until; "What does your biological mother think of the situation?"

"With the current events, what does this mean for your future here in the Valley?"

"Are you going to leave with Luna and live with her instead?"

Sapphire was honestly stumped on what to say- but Jun stood her ground. "What Sapphire decides to do, or not do, if none of your concern. Again, it is absolutely none of your business... now kindly back off and leave us alone. We have enough going on as it is. In case you forgot; we just lost our Dad."

Jun turned to lead Sapphire again, before a voice piped up; "but Tai Lung isn't your father." That snarky remark was almost enough to stop them in their tracks. They slowed down a little, but Jun's face hardened before urging Sapphire to keep going, despite the hurt that made his heart hang heavy as the door slammed behind them, muffling the mob outside. She followed the other, but her ears lay flat against her head as they ascended up the steps.

"Hey," the duo turned to see the Inn Keeper standing at the bottom of the stairs, while they were only halfway up; she was a old petite duck, with wisps of grey pittered around her feathers. "Don't listen to them sweetheart. He was whoever you wanted him to be."

Jun nodded softly while Sapphire thanked her, tears threatening to escape his eyes; Sapphire never corrected Jun when he called Tai Lung 'Dad'; and neither did Tai Lung. They were never sure if it was out of pity that Jun never found his biological family... but Tai Lung just... went with it. He took it on board, and it was like Jun was one of his own, and always had been. It may have taken some time, but their relationship did develop, and Tai Lung used to ask for Jun in his letters in the durations they would be apart- and it was sweet to see. "We better get going," she took lead, and they made it back to the room, where Nuwa sat at the coffee table, taking a cup of tea from Lok, thanking him quietly, before she caught them entering.

"Are you two okay?" She had the nerve to ask.

"Of course we are!" Jun laughed, rubbing his eyes to make sure he definitely wasn't crying. "We should be asking you that."

They all shared a stiffened chuckle. "I'll be fine..." Nuwa put the cup down, before standing by up again. "We're going to wait til the crowd leaves..." she looked at Sapphire slowly. "Master Tigress is looking for you dear. About the letter..."

Sapphire felt her throat go dry, so she tried to cough, in a sad attempted to get rid of it. "Mom... I swear on Dad's grave I-"

"Don't do that." Nuwa moved in closer, and firmly pressed her paws on either shoulder. "You don't have to swear on anyone's grave. You just need to tell me honestly... did you tell anyone about the letter?"

"Only Jun and myself Ms Nuwa," Lok said. He never addressed her by their second name- Nuwa insisted right from the start it was too formal for family to use. Lok felt out of place saying her name only (much thanks to his posher parents- so she allowed him to called her Ms Nuwa). "I can promise you that."

Nuwa seemed to have believed him, and took a steady breath. "Mom." Jun said quietly.

"Mm?"

"If you don't mind me asking... what do you think about the letter?" Jun paused briefly. "How do you feel, I mean." It had been a question sitting in the air.

Nuwa watched him for a moment, before letting go of Sapphire's shoulders, and hugging herself slowly. "I don't know." She finally said in defeat. "Tai Lung was always so... welcoming. So... charming..." A soft giggle got past her lips, before winking at Sapphire. "I can see where you get it from." Sapphire laughed along with her. "We always got along, I never really gave it much thought, you know? I honestly had no idea he felt this way..." a smile soon followed. "It was nice to read what he wanted to say... if you get what I'm saying?" They nodded. "I almost didn't believe any of it." What Sapphire did manage to read, she recalled him calling her strong and fierce; something men were often afraid of when it came to looking for a woman as their companion. When they would rather someone who had to depend on them for everything. For Tai Lung... that seemed to be something that had drawn him to her. "He didn't want to say anything for a long time because... I think he was worried as to how you would react, sweetheart."

Sapphire pulled a face. "He never had to be. I can't tell him who he can and can't date. He should've been more worried about Luna-" she paused quickly, before she pulled a face. "She doesn't have a say either."

Nuwa's brows furrowed together slowly. "How have you two been doing... bonding wise?" Jun asked.

"We..." Sapphire just shrugged. "She invited herself to help go through Dad's stuff. Not wanting me to go through it alone, or something like that." Nuwa watched a little closer, before asking what was wrong. "I want to understand where she's coming from. I get that she wants to make up for all the time she missed, and it hurts her to see me call someone else Mom, but I can't just switch up like that. To unlearn someone that's become part of my life, when she couldn't be there. I know she had her reasons... but I shouldn't be forced to do something I'm not exactly comfortable with."

"That's not your problem Sapph." Jun folded his arms. "It's on her. I hope you know that."

"I do... I just don't know how I'm supposed to address it right now."

Back at the Palace

"Could we go find my Mama?"

"Not now darling. She's a little busy right now."

"She's always busy." Another boring meeting with the Masters, which meant another meeting that left Chang, Tigro, Lotus and AJ feeling abandoned and bored. Luna volunteered to keep an eye on them, and hurried them to the palace arena. This time the rest of the five were there to help organize the unpleasant festivities. Ping and Li were going to be up later on, and Mei Mei was out, which left them with very few choices to escape.

"I know sweetie, but she has a job to do right now. She'll see you after."

Lotus raised a brow, but wasn't as vocal as Tigro. "She doesn't want to do any of this you know." Luna bit her lip; it had been a long time since she was last around kids... and since kids this age were put in her care. Lack of experience left her unsure how to keep them occupied; she understood they were missing their mother... but by the Gods above was the littlest one the most annoying, and the oldest one a smart-mouth.

"That's true, but that's part of growing up." Her head rose a little higher, she stared ahead, as if to address a crowd. Chang looked around to see whom she was looking at, to find no one anywhere near them. "She has more than one priority."

"That's right." Lotus stood with his paws on his hips, his nose and chin rising as he spoke. "There's three of us." Tigro was a little taken aback; his brother rarely spoke out of line, especially to someone they weren't well acquainted with. Luna looked surprised too, before hardening her gaze into space.

"The last thing she needs is any of you giving her a hard time." Lotus glared at this woman; he didn't like her one bit, but he couldn't piece together the puzzle as to why. Since she showed up, it was like she was trying to take charge of everything when his Mom wasn't around. He got that she was only trying to help her in anyway she could, but she didn't have to be such a pain in the behind bossing them about and forcing them to play, when all they wanted was to be with their mom and grandparents. They were never a nuisance... at least, no one ever told them they were.

Now he was getting a little paranoid; what if people were being nice to them just because they were orphaned of their dad?

Luna decided to watch AJ as she walked down the steps with Chang, who was trying to take her mind off of everything, even just for a moment. He moved ahead of her, and when he got to the bottom step, he noticed a scroll lying within his peripheral. AJ noticed it too, tilting her head questioningly as he leaned down to pick it up, with AJ close behind him. "What is it Chang?" She asked, prompting both her brothers and Luna to observe closely.

"It's a scroll." Chang replied. Luna's eyes narrowed, which caused her paw to move up, and slither into her sleeve. "Its addressed to your Mom."

Luna felt her heart drop; her sleeve was empty.

Tigro scrunched his nose. "Why would it be lying around out here?" He asked.

Luna inhaled steadily. Breathe. "Whatever it is, it mustn't be opened. Hand it over, I'll bring it to her right away."

Chang thought for a moment, before flashing a knowing smile in Lotus' direction. "But I thought we couldn't interrupt her. Wasn't she too busy?" Luna glared at him, trying to keep her thundering heart calm against the tide of anxiety rinsing over her.

"I said hand it over."

"You didn't say please-"

"Just shut up!" Luna snapped, not noticing little primate's eyes to darken as he slowly moved back as he stomped down the steps. "I said hand it over. Now." Why did she sound desperate?

Chang glanced up at the palace, before smirking. "Okay!" SWOOP! He was over her head, back up on the platform, and racing up the steps towards the main body of the palace.

Luna had the child within her sight up until he managed to get the doors closed behind him. She hammered with her fists, demanding it to be opened, only to grow impatient and squeeze through the gap once it was big enough for her. The little was no where in sight, and neither were the Masters. Now was the time to panic.

Quickly she sprinted to the meeting room she was sure Master Tigress and the others were in. Bursting open the door, she was shocked to find only Tigress and Shifu present.

They were clearly oblivious to the abrupt interruption, and stared at her while she huffingly asked; "where's Chang?"

"He just left with his father..." Shifu raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Is everything okay?"

Luna tugged at the sleeves of her dress. "He found something-" her throat ran dangerously dry as she saw the blasted thing sitting on the table, which also held two cups of lukewarm tea.

Tigress glanced down at it briefly, before watching the feline from the corner of her eye. "Yes. He did." Luna held her breath... before Tigress flashed a calm smile. "One of the messenger ducks dropped it on the way in this morning. It's about the ceremony arrangements. Nothing to worry about." Luna wasn't convinced, until Tigress handed it to her to see for herself. There it was in big handwriting;

Arrangements and Schedule (2nd edition).

"I see." Luna could feel her heart relaxing.

"Is there anything we can do for you?"

"No." Luna smiled back reassuringly. "I just wanted to make sure it was delivered to you. I offered-"

"There's nothing to worry about Luna. As you were." Luna nodded, before bowing and retracting from the room. When she closed the door, she slinked away, holding her head. She had to find that scroll.

They waited a few moments.

All the while Tigress watched as Shifu's ears twitched. "She's gone." Shifu turned to the set of drawers behind him. "You can come out." One door slid open, before Chang's head poked out, panting. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." He gasped. "Phew! She did not want me to have that scroll!"

Shifu chuckled, before fishing it out of his sleeve. "You better go find your father."

"Yes Master... and I promise I didn't read it." Tigress always knew he was a good kid, and that he always told the truth. Smiling at him until the door shut behind him, she finally let it drop and took the scroll from Shifu.

The old Master watched her unravel it, her eyes scanning each sentence... until it settled slowly in her lap. "Tigress?" Her mouth wasn't hanging open; her lips were barely apart. Trying the get the words out, but he remained focused on her breathing. It was almost staged, like she wanted to look calm, but her chest rose and fell too slowly for his liking. "Tigress," he tried again. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Tigress finally peeled her eyes away from the page, and stared at him wildly. "Its from Shang." They hadn't heard from him in weeks, not to mention he nor his family showed up at the funeral.

Shifu leaned in to try take it from her. "What happened? Is he okay"

Tigress threw the scroll onto the table in front of her, a paw rising slowly to her mouth. "He found them."

Shifu was about to question who "them" could be, before he quickly realized whom. "Tigress-"

She shook her head. "He found them alive."