Flashback

"Master, are we sure this is a good idea?" MaSha asked Master Boar.

"Master Oogway already made the preparations, MaSha." He told her. "China's masters should be arriving soon." He turned away from the table settings to look at her, quickly noticing the nerves the poor girl was experiencing. MaSha was fiddling with her paws trying to keep calm. "MaSha." He grabbed her paw gently, making her stop shaking. "You've been doing a grand job controlling it. Don't focus on it too much and you'll be okay." MaSha took a deep breath and nodded at him. He smiled before he got back to what he was doing.

MaSha sighed leaving her master to do what he needed to do. She left to the Opal Palace courtyard to get some fresh air. Some snow had begun to fall a few minutes ago, making the ground a bit slippery but nothing the masters couldn't handle. Snow always brought some type of peace to her. She couldn't quite understand why. Perhaps it was because for the first couple of years Tigress had been allowed to visit for the Winter Feast and spend it with her instead. Being close to her at any time of the year was special but somehow the winter time was even more.

"Enjoying the snow, young master?" Oogway walked up beside her, startling her.

"Master Oogway." MaSha turned to him with a bow. "I was just-you know…..admiring it." Oogway smiled softly.

"She'll be here." Oogway told her, making her look at him.

"How did you know?" She frowned. Oogway's smile didn't falter.

"Your mother. Do you ever think about her?"

"She's not my mother." MaSha crossed her arms, hiding away her paws.

"Mistress Daiyu did commit many unforgivable mistakes. The quicker you learn to accept that she is your mother, young master, the quicker you'll control your chi." Oogway smiled before leaving her to think. He was always so cryptic.

End of Flashback

MaSha frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror. Lifting her paws to look at them as she imagined her 'curse' just sitting there, fearing she would lose control over them. Turning sixteen was a big deal in China, especially for a Kung Fu student. It was the age they received their Master or Mistress title.

Truthfully the young girl didn't find herself worthy of either title. She still had no control over her 'curse'. To be given either title seemed like such a high honor to give to someone who wasn't even prepared.

"MaSha." The voice of her master, Boar, came through her door. "It's time." MaSha sighed looking at herself once more before going outside. Master Boar was by no means strict, in fact he was more relaxed than Master Chicken, but today was important. "Have you made a decision?" He asked. MaSha but her bottom lip looking down at the floor for a second before looking at him in the face with a nod.

Po couldn't believe his eyes! So many masters had arrived at the Opal Palace! Some masters that he hadn't even had the chance to meet yet! Including Master Croc and Master Ox, who he had met in his adventure to Gongman City, were there!

"I'm not complaining but why is there so many masters here?" Po asked. "I thought MaSha didn't like lots of people."

"She doesn't." Tigress stood beside him. The two warriors stood up top of the steps greeting the masters who came up to them. "MaSha is turning sixteen Po. She's also getting her title."

"Oh." Po looked towards the masters. He was definitely going to have a field day talking to all of them.

"Po," Tigress called for his attention. "I know what you're thinking. You'll get your chance to speak with them but please try to be serious for a few hours okay." She smiled softly. "I promise you'll get to talk to them."

"Don't worry Ti." Po smiled. "I'll be the most serious guy you'll ever-" Po's eyes widened as someone caught his eyes. There, a few steps away, were three tigers approaching them. Tigress wasn't sure why Po got so excited to see more tigers like her but didn't say anything about it.

"Hello Tigress." Her Aunt Cong greeted. Her other Aunt Jiao and Uncle Shui behind Cong. Po was still looking at them in shock.

"Hello Ayi Cong. Ayi Jiao. ShuShu Shui" Tigress greeted with a smile and bow. The three tigers bowed back. "How have you been?"

"Splendid! I can't believe MaSha is finally turning sixteen." Jiao smiled. "And look at you too. A fully grown woman. You've certainly changed from the last time we saw you."

"And who is this handsome fellow?" Shui asked looking at Po. Po suddenly composed himself when he caught their eyes.

"Oh I'm Ping. Master Po Ping." Po bowed respectfully.

"Ah so you're the Dragon Warrior." Shui frowned with a glare to the panda.

"You invited him Tigress?" Cong asked confused.

"I did." Tigress nodded. "A lot has changed in the past year."

"You got that right." Po chuckled. He suddenly felt nervous about meeting Tigress's family. He wasn't sure how he'd react if he had to meet her dad. Not that he could meet him anyway. Both of Tigress's Aunts and Uncle gave him an intimidating look, making Tigress sigh and roll her eyes.

"Let me show you guys inside. Po, I'm sure you can handle greeting the rest of the masters on your own?" Tigress spoke up.

"Oh yeah! Sure! I got it covered." He smiled. "Nice to meet you guys." Po waved as Tigress dragged her three relatives inside.

"You guys are ridiculous." Tigress rolled her eyes as the four of them walked through the courtyard of masters.

"He has your scent, Tigress." Jiao pointed out.

"What?!" Tigress stopped walking to look at them.

"You know, a female tiger usually doesn't mark her their mate until after marriage." Shui chuckled with a smirk.

"Does he know yet?" Cong asked.

"Look, I don't know what you guys are talking about." Tigress faced away from them and began walking again. "The Dragon Warrior and I have never and will never have the type of relationship you are implying."

"It's just something we noticed, Tigress." Jiao smiled. Tigress sighed, shaking her head. It did make her think though. According to them she accidentally marked Po and he hadn't realized it. Hopefully there was a way to undo it without his knowing.

Tigress knocked on the large door of the palace before pushing it opening it. Inside MaSha stood with Master Boar and Master Chicken on either side of her.

"MaSha!" The three siblings smiled excitedly. MaSha smiled sadly at them, wishing to be as excited as her family was. They went over to her and, even though she wasn't quite fond of it, she allowed them to embrace her in a hug.

"Look at you." Jia smiled as they let go to get a look at her. "Finally sixteen. Your father would be so happy."

"You think so?" MaSha smiled sadly. The thought of her father still being around was nothing but a distant dream that was never going to come true. "Do you think MerShe would be too?"

"I'm sure both would be the happiest." Shui smiled hugging her once again. MaSha smiled back.

"MaSha, would you like to them your decision?"

Master Chicken asked. MaSha frowned as her aunts, uncle and sister looked at her, having let go of her. Taking a deep breath she looked at them with a serious look.

"A few weeks ago, Master Chicken and Master Boar came to me with a proposition. Usually women masters take the title of Master if they do only Kung Fu but since I'm also learning to control what my mother gave me, I have the option of taking her title of Mistress." MaSha bit her lip. Tigress frowned, having already known this. Her aunts and uncle looked surprised at her.

"I've decided to take the title of Mistress." MaSha announced, surprising all four of them. "I may have gone through an awful time with my mother. An unfortunate experience I'll never forget but I am her daughter and I wish to show her, despite everything she put me through, I'm way more than the scars and wounds that she gave me." MaSha looked at them, seeing their shocked faces was something to be expected. Especially from her. Tigress smiled sadly before walking over to her and placed her hands on her shoulders. She didn't say anything, only giving her a nod and smile of approval. MaSha smiled back sadly before looking at her aunts and uncle.

"I understand that even though you three are not in agreement of MaSha's decision." Master Boar looked at the three siblings. "But I'm sure you are willing to understand that this was her decision alone. She was given more than enough time to think about what her choice was."

"MaSha," Cong began. "Are you sure this is the title you want?" She frowned.

"There's no going back on this decision." Shui added.

"I'm sure." MaSha nodded. "I don't wish to be afraid of my mother my whole life. Taking the title she has, will help me overcome that cloud of fear she has over me." Jiao smiled softly and walked up to her.

"We're so proud of you." She smiled before hugging her tightly. MaSha smiled hugging back before they let go.

"MaSha, before you go out there, I have a gift for you." Tigress told her, taking out the gift from the inside of one of her sleeves. MaSha's eyes shone curiously at what was inside. Tigress handed MaSha the small package before she carefully opened it.

"I know it's not the one you asked for when you were younger." Tigress commented as MaSha's eyes widened seeing the product inside. "But I fixed it up a bit and thought you might like it." Tigress smiled. MaSha looked up at her, her smile growing wider.

"Can I-?" MaSha began before her masters nodded with approval.

Po smiled as he spoke with Masters Bear and Sheep. The two masters always seemed as if they were really strict but he was pleasantly surprised to see they were very easy to talk to. They laughed happily at his jokes and complimented his achievement with Inner Peace.

"You're a very quick learner aren't you, Dragon Warrior?" Master Bear smiled.

"Just a little bit." Po chuckled. "It's relaxing to do whenever I think about my parents." He smiled sadly.

"That must not be easy then." Sheep joined. "Losing parents as such a young age can be traumatic for any child."

"Yeah." Po nodded. "Luckily I have a great dad and friends to help me through it. I still have a lot to think about what happened but thankfully I haven't had a nightmare about it in weeks."

"Good to see you're coping well, Dragon Warrior." Sheep smiled. Po smiled back at them. The story of what Shen had done had traveled all over China by now and it was even bigger when it was revealed that Po was probably one of the last pandas out there. It wasn't going to be easy to accept that he may not have a chance to continue his legacy, unlike the other masters.

The sudden sound of drums caught the attention of the dozens of masters that stood in the Palace's arena. They all looked up to see Master Chicken and Master Boar. Once the drums stopped playing they spoke.

"Hello Masters of China." Master Boar began. "Thank you for gathering here today for this special day. Today marks the sixteenth birthday of one of our students here in the Opal Palace. She has lived and trained here for the past ten years, making her our youngest student in the history of the Opal Palace."

"As per usual," Master Chicken continued. "Like every master before her, it has come to take her own turn to receive her title on this day. She has made a lot of progress over the past few years and is prepared to protect China alongside all of you."

MaSha nervously waited for her masters to finish speaking to the rest of the masters. She looked down at her new outfit. She hadn't had much time to change and look at herself in the mirror but she never really cared how good she looked before so why should she now?

The new title she was about to receive suddenly made her feel a little self conscious about everything. Was she really looking to take her mother's title? The one who put her through hell and back?

"Hey are you okay?" Tigress asked her softly.

"Just, a little nervous is all." MaSha sighed looking down. "What if….what if I'm not ready for this title?" MaSha looked at her, making Tigress smile softly.

"Ready or not, you're showing great strength already MaSha. Don't forget that you will always have me if you need anything, okay?" Tigress hugged her softy. The two sisters hadn't hugged so much before. MaSha liked having her sister so close, it was a new feeling she didn't want to let go off.

"Mistress MaSha." Master Chicken finally announced. After letting go of her sister and taking a deep breath, she stepped into view of the other warriors from all over China. As tradition called the Masters looked up at her and all bowed respectfully.

MaSha looked down at the masters that bowed down to her both afraid and happy for her final decision.

Mistress MaSha of the Opal Palace in Wung Ho Valley and Daughter of Mistress Daiyu.

Can I just say giving MaSha her title felt so bittersweet for me? I created her years ago and now she's 16 and she is facing her past all on her own? I know I'm creating her and all but damn the journey I putting her through makes me feel like some proud mother