Welcome Home

Suddenly, something dripped onto Ai's fur. Then another. And another. "Rain?"

"Aww man! Now what?" Xiwang pouted.

"Now we postpone the event until the sun clears up," Nu Wuya said. "Come on, both you and Ai should rest up before your final match."

"Are you sure it's a good idea to have the finalists under the same roof?" Master Peng asked. Shifu glanced at the two felines staring at each other. Both had long smirks.

"I think they'll be fine," Shifu humored. "In the meantime, would you be okay with coming over? We haven't seen you since..."

Peng sighed, looking up at the Jade Palace. "Yeah, I think I'm finally ready. It's going to be hard."

"It always is."

"How long has he been gone?"

"Too long," Shifu sighed. "Too long." Just then, two other snow leopards came their way. "Master Song, Lu-Ying. Would you care to join us as well?"

"If you'll have us," Master Song smiled.

"I'd love to talk more to Xiwang," Lu-Ying winked at the black panther, but Xiwang was too focused on smirking at a smug-looking Ai. Song rolled her eyes, smiling, and followed the masters back upstairs. The Furious Five and the two snow leopard masters talked in the front, and the new Furious Five started off in the back. Ai and Xiwang were in the very back.

"So? Are you ready to get your butt whooped?" Xiwang smirked. Ai rose her eyebrow with a small smirk and her hands folded behind her back.

"You're really that confident in your skills?"

"I'm going to give it my very best. Even if I fail, I'll be sure to give you a run for your money."

Ai's smile stretched wider, showing her hungry teeth. "I can't wait for it."

Just then, something caught their noses. In fact, it caught everyone's nose. A faint smell on the wind, something so gentle and unique. But- "Huh? That smells familiar," Xiwang said.

"It's my mom's cooking, but... it smells different. It smells... better?"

"Wait a min." Xiwang darted up the mountain, past the Furious Five and the masters, with Ai quickly following behind. The others followed up slowly. Xiwang and Ai skidded into the barracks and crashed onto the doorpost of the kitchen. Inside wasn't the tiger's mother, but a goose.

"Master Yin?" Ai said. "What are you doing here?"

"And why are you cooking?" Xiwang added.

"Hehe, my name isn't Master Yin, little kitten," the goose said, removing the disguise. He placed his noodle hat on his head, smiling widely. "My name is-"

"MR. PING!" Shouted the old Furious Five, rushing into the kitchen.

"Ah Ah! Before you start hugging and crying all over me, sit down, and let's start eating," Mr. Ping scolded, but his scowl couldn't stay for long. "You're lucky I'm not charging you guys." The others erupted in laughter. Xiwang, Ai, Lu-Ying, and the new Furious Five looked at each other, confused.

"When did you come back?" Master Crane asked.

"I've been looking around, making sure that my... 'apprentice' isn't roughed up too much by my granddaughter."

"Granddaughter? Does he mean me? How am I related to him?" Ai asked. The black panther was about to open his mouth when Shifu asked another question.

"Is... Po um..."

The room got quiet. Mr. Ping stopped stirring the pot, looking into its murky reflection. "It's been a long time. I've missed all of you," He sniffled. "I've really missed my family here."

"Mr. Ping," Shifu spoke softly, "I never wanted to-"

"Good evening," Said a familiar voice. Ai and Xiwang, who were the only ones who hadn't taken their seats yet, whipped their heads around.

"Mother?"

"Master Tigress!" Xiwang quickly bowed, but he glared at her. "Where have you been? You missed Ai's victory against Egun."

"I knew my daughter was capable," Tigress smiled. "And I was... busy getting someone." Xiwang looked at her amber eyes. Were they always this reddish? Tigress wiped her eyes. "Sorry, I've been... emotional the past few hours."

"Why?" Ai asked.

"She's been getting someone," Boomed a voice. From the entryway, a large round panda walked in with his open green vest.

"Li-Shan!" Viper piped up. "You're here." Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Wait... then... does that mean-"

"Master Tigress," Xiwang said with surprising seriousness. "Where did you go?"

"To the Gansu region, of course," Tigress smiled. "When you told me, I decided to take a little trip there. I was supposed to go there when... things were more favorable between me and the person I... cherished." Xiwang glanced at the other masters. Their eyes rolled a bit. He could understand. Po had mentioned something about Master Tigress having a hard time admitting her feelings.

The black panther shook his head. "Wait, you went there and back that fast?!" Exclaimed Xiwang.

"I run fast."

"But my master-"

"Your master was afraid for no reason. It was a miscommunication that caused a lot of pain and suffering," Tigress frowned only for a moment. "But now," She said, smiling wider than Xiwang had ever seen, "He's here."

Familiar footsteps walked along the wooden planks. The planks creaked from the weight. They hadn't had to accommodate this load. Not in a long time. Another black and white bear turned the corner. Everyone gasped. Viper's eyes immediately watered up as did Monkey's. Crane took off his hat while Shifu's staff dropped to the ground. The bear took off his cloak's hood and smiled with his usual nervous and goofy grin. "H-Hey, guys."

"Mother?" Ai quietly spoke up. "Who is... that?"

"Po," Master Shifu whispered. Ai's jaw dropped.

"I'm sorry I-"

"POOO!" The Furious Five, Peng, and Song lept at the panda and barreled him with hugs and tears. Po fell to the ground, laughing and crying with his friends. "We thought you were, and when Shifu told us you, how are you, why did you-"

"Guys guys!" Po laughed and cried with them, holding them tight. "It's okay. It's okay. I'm home."

"If you ever leave like that again, we'll nail your feet to the palace ground! Do you understand me, mister!" Viper hissed with tears streaming down her face.

"Yes ma'am!" Po quickly said. As the panda slowly got up, he saw the face of the old red panda. Po timidly bowed. "Master Shifu." Shifu still sat in his chair.

Shifu didn't say a word. He simply ran up and hugged the panda's big pudgy gut. "I'm so sorry, my son," He whispered. "I would've never-"

"I... I thought you would be so mad," Po wept again, hugging his old master again. "I thought you would've-"

"Po, I was never mad. Just surprised," Shifu smiled, wiping his tears away. "I lost one son, Po. I'm not losing another one."

"I'm sorry, Master Shifu."

"I'm sorry too."

"Can someone please explain what the heck is going on?!" Li the lizard asked.

"Li, don't be rude," Nu Wuya cawked.

Po stood up and faced the new Furious Five. He grinned, planting his hands on his hips, "These are the new warriors, huh? They look really strong."

"Umm thank you," Wang said. "Um... but who are you?"

"He's my father," Ai finally spoke up. Po looked at the white tiger. She froze. Her hands balled up into fists. Sighing, Po knelt down to her height. "F-Father?"

"Ai," Po heavily breathed. No one moved a muscle. Xiwang watched the toil in Po's eyes threaten to come out in tears again. Ai's fists stood clenched by her sides. She stood like a stiff board. It was hard to tell if she would punch him or strangle him. "I... I know you have a lot of questions-"

"Why did you leave?" Ai asked.

"I-"

"Ai," Shifu spoke up. "It wasn't his fault. He left because he thought I would kill him after your mother was pregnant with you."

"Wait, but weren't you and Master Tigress already married?" Xiwang asked.

"Ahhhhhhh," Po started sweating bullets.

Tigress shook her head with a smile, "We kept our relationship hidden for a while. The Furious Five knew, but we didn't think Master Shifu knew. We thought he wouldn't approve since Po is the Dragon Warrior and Master Shifu raised me."

"Wait, that's the Dragon Warrior?" Li asked.

"SHhhh," Nu Wuya hushed.

"During... a special night," Tigress grumbled over the old Furious Five's chuckle, "I got pregnant with Ai. We were afraid that Master Shifu would exile Po."

"Why just Po?" Xiwang asked.

"I thought Shifu wouldn't be as mean as to exile his own adopted daughter," Po sighed. "So I figured we'd beat him to the punch."

"So you left, but that doesn't explain why you stayed away," Zhang said. "If I remember correctly, Master Viper said that you guys put up posters everywhere."

"And I... uh... thought they were... wanted posters," Po said. The team looked confused. "As in wanted 'criminal' posters."

"Why didn't you just send Mr. Ping to clear up the air?" Monkey asked.

"I didn't want Master Shifu to take him hostage." The old Furious Five scowled at him. "Look, I was scared, okay? I wasn't thinking!"

"All of that is in the past," Master Shifu said. Po looked back at his daughter.

"Look, Ai, I... I know you don't know what to do here and I know it's all confusing and weird and you probably hate me for-" Ai shut him up with her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

"I missed you, daddy," Ai cried. Po slowly smiled and hugged her back just as tight.

"I missed you, my love." The two of them cried, refusing to let go of each other. Xiwang couldn't stop smiling, but he did when a small thought came into his mind.

How much he wanted to say that to his parents too.

Tigress walked over to him. "It's hard. I know."

"What?" Xiwang mumbled.

"Po told me more about the history of your parents. I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's okay. I'll manage," Xiwang sighed with a sad smile.

"You know, you're more than welcomed to stay here with us."

"But... I don't want to intrude. Plus, my home's-"

"Your home is where your family is. And family doesn't always have to be related," Tigress smiled, resting her hand on his shoulder. Xiwang smiled back, but another thought popped into his head.

"Wait, so... how are we going to fight in the tournament?"

"Huh?" Po's head perked up, still holding his daughter. "What do you mean?"

"Well, Ai and I are facing off in the finals and-"

"WHAT! HAHA That's awesome! My daughter against my apprentice! What could be cooler?! Wait! Dang it!" Po suddenly panicked. "Who am I going to cheer for?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Everyone laughed. Ai wiped her eyes and smiled as her mother knelt beside her.

"Is he everything I told you he'd be?" Tigress smiled.

"No... he's so much more," Ai smiled widely.

Continued...