8

The festival was everything that Sapphire and the others had envisioned it to be; the hometown of Master's so great, of course they had lots going on! Music flowed through the air, fireworks soared into the sky, a strong aroma of food crawled up their noses, and many vibrant colors filled their sight. Tigro and Lotus looked around, acting like it was the first time they ever had attended a festival in their hometown. They called out excited at all the stalls, or if their favorite color just exploded in the sky.

Sapphire, Jun, Lok, Yuki and Yumi were so caught up in the atmosphere around them, they jumped when they heard Tigro and Lotus cry out excitedly, and sprint for another person they haven't met yet; she too was a tiger it seemed, yet her fur was beige, and her eyes were an icy blue to match her formal folds. She was smiling when their attention turned on her, and she caught both boys in her arms, granting them one arm each for themselves, and by then they figured out that this was Jasmine; Shang's wife.

Jasmine was lovely by the looks of it; she greeted the Masters like they were her best friends, or in Tigress' case, like a sister. They exchanged kind words, and hugged, before Jasmine introduced herself to Woo and the former orphans. Woo had zero interest of course; he just brushed her greeting off him, and said something along the lines of 'charming... feelings mutual, love', but that didn't hinder her attitude, which remained as a loose, friendly smile. Shang took her under the arm, and they continued their way. They kept close to the Masters as they neared the village square, where a big crowd of people cheered on their arrival. In the middle, there was a stage set out for them. Many of the villagers welcomed them after Po, Tigress, Monkey, and Woo stepped on stage, and took their seats on the opposite side of the platform.

Sapphire was about to walk up after Monkey but Shifu stopped her.

"There's only room for the parents, Woo and I. You'll have to stand with the other Masters, and Doctor Shang on the left side." Shifu instructed. "Apologies." Sapphire cocked an eyebrow. Woo was watching from behind Shifu, hoofs latched onto one another beneath the long draping sleeves.

He looked rather smug, with his eyes narrowing a little, and his nose rose up towards the sky, a smile his face. "Of course." She forced out as sweet as she could muster, and they followed Shang over to their seats. There was a vacant chair beside Lok, and he patted the spot gently when he saw her.

She accepted it surely, but she kept her eyes Woo as he too took his place beside Tigress, as slowly as he make it look normal. What was up with this guy? Sapphire thought deeply. She hadn't even uttered two syllables to him, and he was degrading her because she was an orphan... well, that's how she felt. He had spoken of her, putting Jun, Lok, Yuki, and Yumi into the mix too, but not to them. She could tell that it made Lok uncomfortable, and thought it would only make it worse he she started having an attitude towards a stranger they had yet to learn more about.

Yuki and Yumi and Jun took no more notice of Woo; instead, they acknowledged all the pandas around them. There were loads! Some were behind, some were on one side of Jasmine, and others scattered around the stage, waving at Po, who waved back with the help of the boys.

"Wow, Po must be from a big family!" Yuki whispered, waving timidly at any panda that walked past them. "There's so many!"

"Not all of them. They lived in a secluded village in the mountains before Li found Po here," Shang explained, taking hold of Jasmine's paw. "They decided to move here, and have remained here ever since. Li is his father, and Dim and Sum... now where..." Jasmine followed her husband's action in looking around. "Aha! Over there." He pointed at the two pandas who sat in the front row, directly opposite them, who were laughing and smiling at each other. "Dim and Sum are Po's cousins..." He looked around again, making sure he wasn't missing anyone.

"What about that girl... Mei Mei?" Sapphire laughed, making Lok blush. "I assume I'm keeping her seat warm..."

"Mei Mei isn't a blood tie, just a close family friend. She'll be around somewhere... but I think Lok would rather you there my dear, so you should get comfortable." Shang chuckled when Lok nodded enthusiastically, and glared at Sapphire to make sure she got the message. He was told about what occurred between the two acquaintances earlier that day by Crane and Mantis, and it too made him cringe for Lok, but the urge to laugh was much stronger than his sympathy. Soon the laugh trailed out of view as Shifu stood up. As he rose, the talking lowered. Sapphire was startled by the sudden change in the atmosphere, and couldn't help but look around when Shifu started adressing the crowd.

That was when she noticed the lonesome figure standing under a lantern that hung from the sign of a shop. They were tall, and kept close attention to Shifu as he began to talk. Their grey muzzle poked out of the darkness of the hood, and their eyes scanned the area around them. Sapphire soon found herself staring into the eyes of this stranger a few too many times throughout Shifu's speech. He spoke about the importance of education in minds that were only growing, and that the future of Kung Fu currently lay in the paws of Po, Tigress, and Monkey, to teach their young ones what they needed to know in order to carry on the traditions for the next generation. However, Sapphire was finding it hard to focus. Her body began to intense out of her control, almost reaching the point that she was fit to bursting, but once she wrapped her head around the action of clapping with everyone else at the end of the speech, she felt more grounded.

It's nothing to be worried about. She thought. Nothing serious... but maybe I should tell Crane, or Viper... just in case. Slowly, she leaned over Lok, who leaned back a little, letting her ask Shang to get Crane's attention herself. Shang did so, and Crane walked over to her. "Is everything okay Sapphire?" He asked, as everyone sat back down.

"I don't know... I saw someone standing over there." She pointed to where she saw the cloaked figure, and Crane's followed her finger. There was no one there now, which made Sapphire feel a little uneasy. "I couldn't make out any distinct features... but I found him standing there was a bit suspicious..."

"Hmm..." Crane narrowed his eyes. "I didn't see anything myself, but I know you wouldn't joke about seeing something that would seemed conspicuous... but Viper and I will look into it right away. We'll let you know if we see anything." And with that, Crane signaled Viper over, and they set off. Sapphire watched them leave, still feeling worried, but Lok patted her on the shoulder, telling her that Tigro and Lotus were about to do their synchronized work with their father.

They began with a wobbly start (began looking the wrong way), but soon everything flowed back in time with the music. They did the panda side of things first, seeing their father was doing it with them, striking their various poses together like a three-way mirror. Punching the air, kicking out in front of them, jumping, and saying 'Huh! Hai! Hi-ya!' all at the right times. They took a quick break, letting their father bow and take his place beside Monkey, as Tigress rose up. Woo and Shifu watched her in a way of confusion that only the Masters would catch on, making Sapphire remember what Woo said earlier;

"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."

So what was she doing if she was in no condition to even teach, let alone defend?

Tigress bowed towards everyone, and motioned Tigro and Lotus to get into their places. They leapt into their stances happily; ones vaguely similar to her battle stance. Soon, she started instructing them. They would leap, flip, punch, spin, and even come in contact with each other, baiting their biceps against each other as if they were fencing. Everyone watched with smiles, while Shifu and Woo were delivering a reaction that was more of... being slightly taken aback. Clearly, they had no idea this was going happen. Sapphire grinned triumphantly. She should've known Tigress would have something up her sleeve.

Her attention soon came back onto Crane, when he suddenly whispered in her ear.

"We found no one suspicious. They must have left."

Without a single doubt, and Chang and Monkey's moment, and throughout the villager dinner, Sapphire and Jun didn't hesitate to preform for the Valley. They did the same song from earlier, now that the entire valley was there to see it. Seeing the villagers clap and sing along to the lyrics was great to see, and even Woo clapped in time. He praised them once they took the vacant seats beside Po and Tigress, who both sat on either side of the table, and Shifu and Woo took either end of the table. Crane made sure their table was set up to fit everyone; Tigro, Chang, the five, Po, his dads, Shang, Jasmine, Sapphire, Lok, Jun, Yuki, and Yumi.

"I was wrong about you children. I see great talent, and I see a promising future ahead of you with these gifts... even though that instrument of yours looks a little... " Woo frowned as his hoof waved in a circular motion. "Worn."

"Well I thank Master Tigress for the encouragement way back when..." Sapphire placed the guitar beside her chair. "Master Tigress was the one who got me the guitar in the first place... and it's become something that seems worn, but has been loved greatly."

"And badly taken care of... despite someone who you think so highly of perchased you such a gift." Woo shook his head piteously. "But no matter, I'm sure your fortune will help you invest in a new one when the time comes..." He went off on a new topic, possibly speaking to everyone, or to Mantis, whom was placed beside him, but Sapphire glanced down at her guitar all the same.

"Hey." She looked up, seeing Tigress place a paw on her shoulder. There was that reassuring smile again. "Don't mind what he's saying..."

"I'm not." She smiled. "I couldn't care less what he has to say," Sapphire chose to speak softly to avoid further argument. Rolling her eyes in the gazelle's direction, she continued. "It's my property, and I can do what I want with what belongs to me." Shaking her head with a soft laugh, before she picked up some food with her chopsticks. "He just likes the sound of his own voice I'd say... I wouldn't change the guitar for anything in the whole world."

Tigress laughed, and said she couldn't agree more. Meanwhile, Shifu motioned Tigro, Lotus, and Chang to come up to him, and when they did, he placed a paw on Lotus and Chang's shoulders, and giving the trio his undivided attention equally. "You boys did very well tonight, and your parents must be very proud of you." Tigro and Lotus grinned excitedly at the Master's words of praise, and instead of bowing respectfully to thank him, they threw their arms around him, and he miraculously welcomed the hug. Both felines turned to face the red panda, along with everyone else. Woo just stared with little to no emotion on his face, and continued to eat, mumbling to himself about things that weren't important to repeat. "I see great warriors within you three..." He then looked at the twins. "I'm sure you'll have plenty to share with your little brother or sister when he or she comes along."

"Thanks Master Shifu!" The boys chimed in, before they were shooed along back to their seats, and Shifu went back to eating. "I must say, Master Tigress," Tigress observed her Master carefully. "Your routine with the boys was definitely... well planned." You could tell he was still surprised, just a little. His eyes were still gleaming in surprise. He looked up from his plate, and looked at her meaningfully. "I thought you were going to get physically involved, which would've been an unwise move... but I was happy to see you found a way to keep up with traditions..."

"Would knowing that it's an unwise move make me any wiser than I am?" For the first time, Sapphire, Jun, Lok, Yuki and Yumi saw Tigress and Shifu exchange smiles, and even a proper conversation. It wasn't about the baby this time, more of how nice it was to make some changes within something that was orthodox, but the tension between them was close to not existing, which made the atmosphere around them a lot more relaxing.

Discreetly, everyone was watching their engagement in conversation, and it was easy to see the relief in everyone present at the table... apart from Woo, of course.

A few hours later, the door to a house outside the Valley had been opened quietly. Po and Tigress carrying two very sleepy boys in, with Sapphire not far behind them. The festival had come to a its eventual close, and the boys were growing tired. It was a longer trek to the Suite, so Tigress decided she'd sleep back home for the night, despite Shifu insisting she came back with him. The boys were more than happy to have their mother home with them for the night, but that didn't make them feel more exhausted as they were, though they insisted they would walk all the way home to make sure they could fight off anyone who tried to hurt their mom...

Po picked up Lotus half way towards the entrance, and he fell asleep almost right away sitting on his father's shoulders, his chin resting on his head. Tigro managed to stay awake a little longer, but once he was at the Valley entrance, he gave in to his mother hoisting him up onto her back almost immediately.

"It's been a long day..." Po whispered as he peeled Tigro off Tigress' back once he came back down from putting Lotus to bed. While he climbed back up the stairs, Tigress suggested they should have a cup of tea before bed, while Sapphire took a gander around the room. They had walked into the living area, where many pictures hung on the wall. Most we of the boys aging from the cradle to now. There were a few of Po and Tigress together; their engagement in friendly combat, him proposing to her, their wedding, expecting the twins, then there were some of the four altogether; the winter festival, the twins 100th day, Chinese new year...

"You alright?" Sapphire snapped out of it, and saw Tigress standing two feet away from her, smiling softly in the candlelight.

"Yeah just... poking around. I don't mean to, I just get captured by everything around me... starting to get Jun's artistic eye I think?"

Tigress laughed softly. "I'm sure..." Cupping her stomach gently, she stood by Sapphire, and also looked at the pictures. "Soon there will be a lot more to add to the wall..." Both of the females glanced at the bump. "I've been meaning to put Jun's picture on the wall somewhere here..." She motioned the semi blank space some of the pictures missed out on over the fireplace.

"Maybe just keep it where it is? We can get pictures done while we're here can't we? Then you'll have something to add to the wall again."

"Of course..." Hearing Po tiptoeing down the stairs, Tigress walked over to the cupboard, where she pulled out a pair of white cotton pants with a matching top. "It might be a bit big, but your things are back up at the Suite... we have a guest room, you can sleep there for the night."

It didn't take long for the house to dwell into silence, after Po, Tigress, and Sapphire retired to bed. The bed clothes were definitely hanging off Sapphire in some places, but she didn't mind. Even if she did, there was nothing else she could do.

It took a few minutes to get to sleep, despite the slight discomfort of the bed. It was sort of caving in, like it couldn't a mass weight, or someone lived on it for weeks. She found a scroll to read to pass the time, and wear out her eyes. Soon, they began to close, and she soon curled up and drifted off to sleep somehow. All was peaceful for most of the time, until she woke up to a creaking down stairs. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, Sapphire listened out for any taddle-tail signs of who it could be walking about...

The creaking stopped.

Sapphire frowned, before swinging her legs over the side of the bed. With the instincts kicking in, she opened the door, moved along down the hall, past Po and Tigress' closed door, and crept to the bottom of the stairs. No one was downstairs, the room was pitch black, and the only way she knew that the kitchen wasn't far out of her radar, was the smell of herbs, spices, and Po's famous noodle soup coming from one direction...

Her stomach growled at the thought. Maybe they wouldn't mind I had something small to eat. Sapphire thought. She felt her way into the kitchen, lit a candle, and found a bowl of peaches sitting on the table. Licking her lips gratefully, she picked one up, and took a huge bite out of it. Yep, she needed that. It was sweet, she was full by the time the seed sat in the palm of her paw. Looking around trying to find where she could put it, she glanced at the door, and froze.

There was someone standing at the door. Sapphire saw the outline of their body through the small window. They were looking in, and around, and twisting the door handle. Sapphire took a sharp intake of air, before dropping the seed. As the seed hit the floor with a little sound coming off the contact, the person at the door stopped jiggling at the handle, and backed away. Maybe they've seen her, and are ready to run for the door, attack her. Before she could tense up in fear, another thought ran through her only, only to set off the adrenaline.

Attack Tigress and the baby.

Before she knew it, she opened the nearly draw, and drew out the nearest weapon of defense near her, and slid over towards the door...

The weapon was a large frying pan.

Hope you like chapter 9 guys!
Please review and tell me what you think! Let me know what you think is going to happen next!