7

The two days following up to the Festival sped by. During those two days, the guests were settled into the rooms that Tigress and Po once situated in before they married, after being introduced to Shang. Lok and Jun shared Po's room, while Yuki and Yumi crammed into Tigress' room- it was a bit of a squeeze, but it was like being back in the orphanage.

"But we get more privacy," Yuki commented, laughing at Lok and Jun's feeling of offense stretch across their faces. Yuki and Yumi actually took up most of the room, with their luggage and gifts they had for Tigress' and Po's unborn, which left poor Sapphire with little to no room to think and breathe, let alone any space to sleep. However, Po came to the rescue, stating that the Chrysanthemums Suite had room for one more; a section that could be cut off by screening off to give privacy. To prove so, he brought a bed up to the suite, sectioned it off like he said it could, and got the area ready.

Sapphire and Tigress followed him. Upon entry, Sapphire placed down her bag, and stared at everything around her in awe. Every surface, every corner, and every inch of the room was touched by the sun as it set. Tigress told her to wait for the right moment to open her eyes, and when that happened, she was swimming in a sea of gold. Sapphire felt the sun on her back, and stood there to soak it in. Inhaling and exhaling softly, she felt more at ease than she had ever been in her life. "But aren't you both in here?" She asked, suddenly remembering the scenario. Her eyes were wide open, and she swiftly turned to pick up her bag. "Am I not invading your personal space?" The vast silken bed was made on one side, while still a little messy on the other. The pillows were propped in place and plumped, and the decorative curtains remained in place, tied against the wall by a gold silken rope.

"Not at all." Tigress places a comforting paw on the girl's shoulder. "Shifu said it was best I was up here, instead of being down in the Valley. Po stays down at our house with the boys. They sometimes with me when Po is on night patrol, but other than that, it's just me up here."

"Heavily guarded if I might add." Sapphire laughed- not like the two guards sitting outside ready to inspect her wasn't obvious enough. Sapphire then proceeded with staring at the small shrine beside the screening that cut her space off from Tigress' and Po's. She crept over, and knelt down to peer at it; one one side was a stack of gifts- small simple bearings like fruit, diamonds, scraps of different colored silk cloth and gold coins, loitering the space, as well as messages of small blessings.

"May I?"

"Read away."

As she took her time to read them, Po excused himself to go make sure Tigro, Chang, and Lotus were ready for the Festival.

Many blessings to our mighty Masters on the amazing months ahead. Many praises on the news of your third miracle.

Many prayers towards you Master Tigress. May the next few months be memorable as the day you gifted the Valley with the amazing news.

We bless the two miracles you have already walking along the earth, in hopes they will teach their new sibling every amazing wonder you gave them. Best of luck Tigro and Little Lotus Ping!

There was two that attracted Sapphire's eye;

To my precious little (just a 'short' pun) Tiger-lily and her beloved, I grant thee many wishes of never ending luck on the months ahead of you.
Tigro and Lotus, I know you'll be amazing big brothers!
Tails knotted we have a baby girl this time! - Shang and Jasmine Sun.

And...

Just heard the news my dear.
Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck. I'll do my level best to be there before the time comes.
In the mean time, I hope the boys don't cause too much hassle
But for now, may the Gods blessings ascend upon the Palace.

You're gonna need it. - Yīgè lǎo péngyǒu.

"You have two admirers don't you Master Tigress?" Sapphire looked up over her shoulder with a grin printed on her face. Tigress didn't quite catch on, until Sapphire passed her the messages. Briefly scanning over them, she too smiled. "How does Shang get away with calling you his 'little Tiger-lily'? Surely Po would get really jealous!"

Tigress raised a brow. "If Po got jealous of my brother, then things would get very awkward between the three of us."

Sapphire stared at her questioningly. "You have a biological brother?"

Tigress quickly corrected herself, passing the message back so it was put into its original place. "Well, possibly... we got in touch with Mei a while back, and asked her to read our records to find out for sure. Jasmine is Shang's wife. She's lovely... but wasn't so sure about the issue at the beginning, like Po. However, they were very supportive, and very eager for both of us when Mei told us she'd look into it and notify us as soon as possible."

Sapphire smiled, and commented she hoped the result was what they wanted. While she stood up and picked up her bag, she started asking "What about the other one? Who's this Yīgè lǎo péngyǒu of yours?"

Tigress eyed Sapphire carefully, "You wouldn't know him I don't think." Tigress spoke with a cough merely escaping. "He's a travelling Jeweller. Made the boys medallions when he found out they were born.. as dramatic as they arrived."

"That crazy huh?"

Tigress' paws settled along the outline of her hips, grinning. "Is the middle of a bandit raid not crazy enough?"

Sapphire tried to hide her smirk. "Darn, talk about making an entrance! But I'm sure labor pain is nothing to the hardcore Master Tigress!"

"Firstly, no one else was with me; secondly, by the time Po and the others got back, Shang had long found me and had me settled in the medical wing; and lastly- the pain was nothing compared to any other pain in the world..." Her paws copied her eyes and smiled down at Bump number three.

Her heart beat speeding up a little at the thought of another boy, or her first little girl, sleeping peacefully in her arms when their time arrived. She couldn't even give herself any distinct detail on the baby's appearance, but hearing Shang sing out his praises on the gender as this silhouette cried out for the first time, Po whispering in her ear how strong and beautiful she was throughout the delivery like he had done before, and the excitement igniting in Tigro and Lotus' eyes coming in to meet the new addition...

"It was a pain worth experiencing."

Sapphire raised an eyebrow at the calmness in her voice. "Woah-kay... I guess motherhood makes you a little weird." Moving to settle her bag over to the far side of the room, Tigress' voice followed her until it crawled into her ear.

"Its only something a mother would understand... you'll understand it when you have a baby of your own."

Sapphire pretended to shudder at the thought, claiming 'ew babies' but the ropes of her satchel fell out of her paws, letting loose the contents inside; mainly clothes, pouches of pictures, among other little things, but a familiar box slipped out of her bag, and that caught Tigress' eye while she scrambled to pick up everything, excusing herself for her clumsiness. Fortunately, it landed on a meditating cushion without breaking, but Tigress stared at it, before looking up at Sapphire.

"You still have it?"

"Of course," Sapphire made a real attempt to laugh, but she almost ended up choking on it. "I um... figured I should bring it along... considering..."

Tigress picked it up. But without opening it, she straightened up. "Considering...?" She encouraged. Sapphire looked away, trying to find something else in the room to focus on, but the gold light was starting to hurt her eyes. Shutting them tightly, her paw moved in circular motion, towards the box. "Close the door please." The guards did, and the room wasn't as strongly lit as it was when the door was open, and Sapphire could see again. With light still streaming through the windows on either side, Tigress opened the box. The same engraving was there, but the contents inside had more space.

"Open the folded paper." Sapphire said quietly. Tigress did so; the first one was a photo. In it bared a much younger Sapphire, only a small newly born babe sleeping in the arms of a faceless figure. The picture was done in a way that it focused on Sapphire, and the other body was exposed by the color of the shirt, and the classification of feline printed on their arms. "I should've said it sooner... but at the time I thought my letter stated it clearly."

Tigress unfolded the other one; another photo, but not of Sapphire. There were two faces staring right back at her, done in should a way that they looked like they were standing side by side, but drawn at separate periods.

"Your parents." Tigress whispered. Sapphire's head itched forward, feeling a lump grow in her throat. "I see what you mean now."

"He's dead so... no point looking."

"What about your Mother?"

"She's alive... I got information where she is, and her background... but I can't see myself going out to look for her... It's too soon." Tigress nodded, and they soon sunk into a silence. Sapphire looked around, paws sitting on each other against her stomach. Tigress closed her eyes, inhaling softly, pausing her breath when she heard a small sniffle. Opening them once more, she found one of Sapphire's paws over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "Sapphire..." that was when Tigress found herself running, throwing her arms around Sapphire, who started sobbing in her embrace. Her knees buckled, and they soon were kneeling on the floor. A gentle hush swam around Sapphire's ears in the sea of air around them. "All in good time,"she whispered, looking out the small window on the door, her lips falling in a flat line. "It'll all fall into place the way it should be..."

It was sunset before everyone meet outside the Hall of Heroes. There was another new face to the guests; Super Attendant Woo. He stood by Shifu, staring intently as Tigress, Sapphire, and Crane showed up. Crane flew up to the Suite to let Tigress and Sapphire know that it was nearly time to go. Tigro, Lotus, and Chang were just greeting Woo with a respective bow, but they were soon ignored. All were clothed formally; women in traditional black, silver, pink, or gold kimono's, while the men wore tunics and pants, and the children wore a new pair of training pants.

"Master Tigress, Crane." He said with authority. Crane bowed back, but Tigress merely nodded. "How are you and the baby keeping?"

"Fine."

"Still hasn't arrived?"

"No."

They talked more, letting Sapphire, Jun, Lok, Yuki, and Yumi join the annual game among the Masters; darting your eyes back and forth at each blunt and emotionless words the two shared between each other just for the sake to do something.

They nearly jumped when Woo suddenly stared at them. "And who are these new faces? Students?"

"No; they are former orphans whom we-"

"Became sentimental with." The Gazelle interrupted, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. "Should've known."

He didn't even say hello when Lok greeted him on their behalf. Sapphire held her breath when she heard Tigress growl lowly. She felt her blood boiling at the Gazelle's mocking, and with no doubt, the others were the same, but she knew for a long time that people like this were a waste of time, and just stood there, two faced. "How and ever, tonight is about celebrating the boys." He turned to faces the boys, who were too busy going through the routine they have learnt to show the villagers. Tigro was the first to jump into a stand of attention, with his brother and friend not far behind. "It's traditional that the young-un's did the routine with their parents, the very ones who taught their children what they know. Pity one has to miss out."

"Well," Shang folded his arms, and proceeded to walk down the steps. "Tigress may of had a Master, but she didn't have a mother or father to teach her Kung Fu, and she's the best of the best. I don't see any issues." That caught Sapphire, Lok, Jun, Yuki and Yumi by surprise. Their sight edged towards Shifu, who glared at the tiger trying to cover up something else- pain? Humiliation? Regret? Pride? Not like they cared, they weren't very happy about Shifu with his treatment and resentment towards Tigress. In their eyes, what was there to hate or pick on? Tigress blinked at Shang's attitude, but smiled a little, and held out her paws towards her sons, who both took hold of each one.

"Shall we go down? Grandpa Li. Grandpa Ping, and aunt Jasmine will be down there waiting to see you."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Chang jumped onto his Dad's back, and they set off to start their exciting evening.

Yīgè lǎo péngyǒu- An old friend.

Hope you like it guys! Please review, and I'll try my level best to update again soon!

What do you think of Shang's attitude in this chapter? What lies ahead in the festival?

Chapter 8 coming soon!

Ciao!