Chapter 5

Everyone welcomed the Master's as they entered the restaurant later that night. The food was ready, and piping hot, voices and laughter sang through the air. Child gave chase with their friends... and Li and Mr. Ping smiled at their son's arrival.

At last, there he was, dressed in a black pair of silk pants, and a red tunic with a dragon symbol on it. Tigress was under his arm, beautifully decorated in a red kimono, loitered with cherry blossoms. Her upper arms were bare, but sleeve-like cuffs, starting from her elbows, flowed just over her paws, hiding a particular piece of jewelry. A lot of jaws were dropped, a lot of envy was felt by others around them, but they welcomed the two, with Li encasing Po, Tigress, and Mr. Ping into his arms.

Once they pulled apart, and everyone was in the restaurant. Po and Tigress took center stage and got everyone's attention, with Master Shifu, Mr. Ping standing near-by. and there they publicly announced their news; the reaction to the engagement was absolutely insane. Cheering, clapping, and whistling echoed through the air once everyone caught sight of the ring. Meanwhile, Li Shan observed the scene from a distance, in the comfort of the shade, and once Ping came out with the bowls of food, and he had his bowl in his paw, he heard laughter and glanced in the sounds direction; Tigress was laughing at Monkey mock proposal to be Po's best man, by presenting a bowl of noodles instead of a ring. Viper, Mantis and Crane were by her, nearing the ground to stop themselves falling about with laughter as Po held his cheeks in shock, and twisting his feet so they were facing one another.

Li smiled, and casted his eyes to the food...

"Dad?" Po was suddenly in front of him. "We're getting pictures done. Need all dads in it!" He grinned, and Li's face lit up. Placing the bowl down on a near-by table, they walk straight into the center of everyone. Po and Tigress were sitting on stools, while Ping and Shifu stood on their respective sides, and Li stood behind them both, placing one paw on a shoulder of each. Mantis cracked some joke, and it made them laugh, which was the exact moment the painter was looking for, and had it on a canvas in seconds.

When it was cased and put away, Po was pulled over to the table where there was a dumpling eating contest against Dim and Sum, while Shifu and Mr. Ping were talking with other villagers... which left Li and Tigress side by side.

"I uh..." Tigress turned to look at him once she stood up. "Been meaning to congratulate you both personally..."

Tigress just smiled. "Thank you-"

"And apologize." Tigress' eye narrowed slightly. "I've been acting foolish... and I've been a jerk." Placing a paw on her shoulder gently, he made sure he had her full attention.

"I forgive you." She said. "I'm not one for talking how I feel but, I had this sense something had been wrong." Li cringed slightly when her ears started to flatten across her head, before his other paw settled on his chest, the mere movement paused her ears from going flat.

"What I have said was wrong, everything I have thought about you was out of jealously, and childishness. I failed to see how happy you've made my son... and I can't thank you enough for loving him. I can see how much you care about him now, but the way I have been the past year I... am ashamed. My wife would... scold me greatly for my behavior." They both smiled softly, "she would've loved you, and agree you are perfect for him... I just hope you can forgive me."

It was subtle, but there was a gleam in her eye that was brief in the lighting of the lanterns, but it was gone when she blinked and looked over at Po, who had just won the contest against his cousins. Li did the same, before chuckling, and whispered. " He's a good kid... just keep him out of trouble?"

Tigress' eyes widened slightly, before she laughed. "I can't make promises on that part..." which Li laughed along with, before he opened his arms again, and encased her within an embrace. It wasn't until he felt her arms loop from under his, and her paws settling on the upper part of his back. Patting her back briefly, they pulled away as Po turned to look in their direction, grinning at the sight. He came over once they were fully parted, and announced to everyone to make their way to the Valley square.

Li looked at little confused, along with the visiting Masters. The villagers, Mr. Ping, and the Masters from the palace just smiled and directed the other Master's out.

"Po?" the young panda grabbed his dad by the paw, and pulled him out of the restaurant excitedly, while Tigress caught up with Viper and the others.

"Shh! Close your eyes dad!" Li did so, and let Po guide him along, pulling back slightly incase he was gonna walk into something...

A few moments later, Po whispered. "Open your eyes."

Li did so, very slowly at first, before blinking slowly to unveil the maximum wideness his pupils could adjust to. He stood in the center of a vast circle of bodies, where every villager was handing out unlit lanterns to the pandas, who looked down at them with looks of question, confusion... and fondness. Finally, Tigress walked up to Li and Po from the crowd, a gloomy looking lantern in paw. Viper, Shifu, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, and Viper became one with the crowd, all eagerly watching as Po and Li took hold of the lanterns.

Li was still a little puzzled. "Po... what is this?"

Po chuckled. "It's a lantern."

"I know, I know... but this?" He moved his head around to motion towards the other pandas holding lanterns.

Po continued to smile, but it softened a little. "It was Tigress' idea." Li glanced at the feline for clarification, in which she just nodded at him while Po continued. "You always said this was a lonely time of year, without me... Mom... and same goes for anyone else who had missed out on making memories with loved ones. So..." Po was handed a candle, and he lit both their lanterns. "We will remember them."

Li was speechless, to the fact he felt his eyes welling up with tears as he stared down at the Jade Green lanterns in front of him, glowing... and looking around, the other pandas had the same reaction. Some were already crying, almost cradling the lanterns in their hold, while others grinned towards Tigress, as if to thank her.

There was an order to turn off all the lanterns around them, and soon their only source of light were the lanterns in their grasp. Li smiled down at the lantern, and wiped his eyes with the heel of his palm when he left one paw to hold onto the lantern. "I um... believe, we''l need an extra paw." He held a paw out to Tigress, who seemed a little taken aback by the offer, but Po's paw pulled her close enough so they all had a hold on the little green light. Looking at one another, and with sincere nods, they raised their arms, and let go of the lantern, letting it float up into the sky.

It's solo mission was short lived, as the many other lanterns were released, and everyone watched with cheers, songs, and praise as each light shone brighter with the next, and the whole sky was soon bathed with the floating candle light.

She is whatever she wants to be...

Music was soon playing, and Li had a little trick up his sleeve.

She is, a little of everything...

Grabbing Po and Tigress and linking their paws together, he ushered them along to dance once another traditional panda song started. THe young couple glanced at one another, smiled, and joined the other couples in the snow, waltzing in time with the music.

Mixed up, so tough in a beautiful way...

Everyone was cheering them on, while Mr. Ping, and Master Shifu joined his side. They exchanged smiles, before taking in the scene.

She's got the world at her fingertips, she makes beauty look effortless

Snow began to fall again, and admist the lights above them, Po had an arm around her waist, one paw linked with hers, moving in what seemed like slow motion to the song.

And I want everything she is...

She is...

She is...

He's happy... Li thought. But seeing the two smile at each other in a way he used to look at Po's mother, he nodded to himself.

Oh I want everything she is...

I am happy too.

And that draws this story to a close!
Hope you liked it guys! Happy late new year XD

Ciao