12

There was a painful silence sweeping across the room. Everyone held their baited breath, while Shifu and Sapphire haven't taken their eyes off each other, almost ready to fall into a battle stance in fear one would attack the other. Sapphire learned by Jun the artistic eye to read one's true expression when they tried to hide it. But, she could see it within Shifu, that he was trying everything in his power not to attack her with questions, and demands for explanations. Nothing else, or no one else around them seemed to matter... but her. Sapphire felt her body shiver slightly, her throat closing up, causing a minor struggle to breathe.

Yuki and Yumi held onto each other with uncertainty, while Jun and Lok just glanced at each other worriedly. "Uh..." Po's voice piped up nervously. "We can... explain?" Sapphire snapped out of her trance and looked around. Everyone else was looking at Po and Tigress, all wide-eyed, and slightly angry, as proven in their tensed up forms. Shang's eyes were nearly popping out of his head, and Po slowly kept Tigress behind him when Mr. Ping and Li took a giant step for animal-kind away from them, eyes glued fixed on them.

"I sure hope you do!" Woo literally lost all manliness in his voice, which immediately went high pitched, causing everyone to wince. "Why on earth is he still alive? How? And what does he mean by being 'welcomed'?" He glared at them. "You never pulled the hold on him! You let him escape, and he brought... this!" He gestured at Sapphire, who glared at him offensively. "Into... the world!" He jumped back and hid behind Li. "Is she a venomous gas ready to end us alongside her demonic father?"

"No!" Lok stormed forward. "She never knew-"

"On the contrary Woo," Tai Lung said his name with a stiffened chuckle. "You brought me here... remember your fellow traveler in the rain?" Woo gasped.

"W-what?!"

"Stop." Shifu said calmly, raising a paw, making nearly everyone stay put, apart from Monkey who climbed off Tai Lung. His eyes never left Sapphire, before he then added in a more angered voice. "Po..."

"OK, OK." Po looked up at the ceiling. "I promise you Woo that I did use the Wushi Finger hold..."

"Sure, like your words have physical evidence." Woo scoffed, but never stepped out from behind Li.

"But like he said," Po continued. "It works two ways, which I still don't understand. Instead of going in the direction we thought the result went... it went to his favor, and he was given a second chance to redeem... and now this is his chance." Shifu looked down at Tai Lung, gripping onto his walking stick almost painfully. Tai-Lung caught his eye, and nodded. "He came to Tigress and I, and I can tell you that neither of us were sure to trust him..." He looked at Tai-Lung, both an even mixture of a sheepish smile and apology. "No offense."

"None taken."

"So how long have you hidden him from us?" This time, Po swallowed nervously, and looked at Tigress, who inhaled deeply, which cause Shifu to look away from Sapphire, and to a corner of the room that no one else could follow.

"He's been around since I was closing in on my pregnancy with Tigro and Little Lotus." Everyone gasped, causing Shifu to face his students so quickly it could make your head spin. Heck, even Tigress' eyes widened a little. Shang just slowly backed away from her, his paw collecting his hanging jaw.

"What?" Shifu hissed. "Do you realize what could've happened? He could've killed you on the spot."

"He could've harmed the children!" Mr. Ping cried, his wings on his head in horror.

"Yet I didn't." Tai Lung pointed out. Jun and Lok held Sapphire back, whose focus, alongside everyone else darted back and forth between the conversation. "If that's not enough proof that I'm not here for revenge, then I don't know what else is."

Shifu tapped his stick on the ground twice. "Enough. Po- you will bring Tai Lung to the Palace dungeon. Do not lift the technique off him, and after that, I will talk to you and Tigress privately."

"As will we!" Li and Mr. Ping added.

Shifu then turned around to the others. "As for the rest of you; the village is not to know Tai Lung is alive..." he looked at Sapphire again, whom, in turn, nearly collapsed with the level of anxiety on her shoulders. Taking a sharp inhale through the nose, he finished off his sentence reluctantly. "Or about his... presence, in the Valley."

All the others bowed hastily. "Yes Master," they all replied, before Sapphire abruptly ran down the lengthy hall, and outside. Po jumped in surprise as he was about to drag Tai Lung away. Shang just looked at Tigress, mentally asking millions and millions of questions. Tigress looked back at him briefly, her expression holding a soft frown, before she went after the young snow leopard, and everyone else watched her run, still trying to piece together the events that may have surfaced if Tai Lung had played their friends the fool with innocence.

Pushing the heavy door along by its wooden body, and not the handle, instantly feeling the sun beat down on her, the contents of her stomach did a summer-salt, and before she knew it they went up the same way it went down as soon as she collapsed, just as she turned the corner. Shutting her eyes and gripping her stomach with one paw while the other kept her balanced, her knees slammed into the ground as she was forced to take in the smell of the putrid acid throughout several more heaves, and left her with an increasing pain in her throat every time she tried to take in air. Once her intakes of air began to operate at a normal pace, Sapphire stared down at the ground pulling herself along until she leaned against the wall, head in one paw, body expelling into a wave of anxious shivers.

Tigress just turned her head around the corner, where she could hear soft whispers, fed by apprehension. As she took tentative steps, the feline listened with a heavy heart as the distraught girl whispered. "I can't be him... I can't be him... I can't be him..."

"Could you take me out of the immobilization technique now?" Tai Lung slumped against the wall Po placed him as gently as his weight could let his friend. "It's getting a bit discomforting."

Po shot him another look of apology. "Sorry Tai Lung, I can't lift techniques... my fingers are too stubby." He wiggled all ten digits in the air, the outline of each of the barely sketched out in the limited light in the cells.

Tai Lung's eyes edged upwards to the ceiling. "Damn... I'll have to just-"

"Are you trying to stir up a fight?" Po asked suddenly. Tai Lung furrowed his eyebrows at him, as if the ask what he meant. "You know what I mean!" He pointed an accusing finger. "Shifu and the others didn't need to know about Sapphire... yet, she doesn't need that pressure for explaining something she can't! How can she look at Shifu now?"

"They asked why I was here!" Tai Lung snapped. "And I just answered them." Po sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I had to be straight with them, liked I planned to do," the Snow Leopard's eyes edged to the side blankly. "Now we're all in deep waters..."

"Excuse me Po." Po yelped in surprise, turning to see Viper slide past, and a quick motion later, Viper leapt back and slithered away, pulling the Panda along with her. Po wasn't sure what she did at first, until Tai Lung began to move his arms freely long after she shut the cell door... once the large metallic bracelets materialized after her from the corners of the dark cell, and found themselves around his wrists. Then Crane popped out of nowhere, and locked it. Po backed away from them, his paws wringing over one another, anxiously waiting for Viper and Crane to ask him a bigillion more questions/

It never came. Instead, the trio watched in silence as Tai Lung pulled himself up, massaging the aching muscles in his arms as he weakly leaned against the wall. There was total silence, until Tai Lung casted his eyes from his arms, and to Master Viper.

"Thank you..." he said, slightly taken aback, thinking of taking a step forward, but stopped himself. "But, why?"

Viper looked back at him, stone faced. "If Po supposedly trusts you... then I'll find it within myself to do the same, by hoping you won't try to escape."

"And so I," said Crane, raising a wing. "The technique Shifu used usually wears off after about two hours..." he eyed Viper, before whispering to her ''it's unlikely he'll come along in that time..." He then looked back at Tai-Lung, his feather's ruffled slightly. "I'll bring you food after dinner... come on Po, Shifu, Li, and Mr Ping wants to speak with you." Po nodded, and with that he followed the serpent, and the avian out of the cell, shutting and locking the door behind him, and out of the area. It was quiet among the usually chatty Masters, who always had something to say to one another to make sure they didn't drown in the awkward silences...

Tai Lung observed their exit, mentally wishing the Panda good luck as he took a seat on the bench, letting the back of his head touch the wall again, and close his eyes. Soon, with the melody of the shackles following his wrist movement, the leopard began to meditate.

Unfortunately, this time around they were sinking, and luck didn't seemed to be within Po's charm. At least, until they were back in the Hall of Heroes, where Tigress was back inside, along with Shifu, and Po's father's, looking just as concerned and distraught as they did before. No one else was there, and soon Viper and Crane disappeared, giving the errand to watch Sapphire, just in case there was any trouble, leaving the four males and one female alone in a gloomy, darkened Hall...

Po's stance stiffened uncomfortably, and when he was about to speak, he suddenly doubled over when Shifu stabbed him with his staff violently in the stomach. "Explain yourselves..." He demanded slowly, the anger slowly rising in him.

The panda gave an 'oof' and immediately cupped his stomach. "Look," he began, narrowing his eyes to focus on Shifu. Tigress placed a quick paw on his shoulder, glaring at Shifu for his action toward her husband. "The situation seems bizarre-"

"Po!" Mr Ping cried shakily. "Tai Lung's alive. You brought him back to the Valley, let him loose around Tigro and Lotus... and you're saying all this seems bizarre?!"

"Okay noted," Po stated quickly. "It is bizarre if you put it in that tone of voice..."

"Po," Li stepped forth, raising his arms against the moulding of his body in neutrality. "Both of the boys at the impressionable age to shape their outlook on many situations based on how their elders..." Li swallowed nervously. "My son... what if he turns your own kin against you? What if he's here to harm them?"

"No," Tigress cut in. "He'll never do that."

Shifu glared at her hatefully. "Of all people I would never see you take part in such a threatening... idiotic... Po-like-"

"Hey!" Po and his fathers' snapped, glaring at the red Panda.

"Mission!" Shifu finished off his sentence without caring for their interruptions. "What makes you so sure he won't do such a thing?"

Tigress leaned down to her Master's face unwisely. "If that was his mission, why didn't he do so seven years ago?"

Li stepped forth and held Tigress away from the little space her anger was allowing between herself and her Master. "Tigress please... you mustn't get worked up, think of the baby..." She curled a soft fist. "... and also from our perspective." He rubbed her on the shoulder. "We had no idea of his existence..." he took in a frightened intake of air. "He was there at their birth..."

"Yes... he was." Tigress saw the fear growing within her father-in-law. "He had his right."

"His right?" Shifu's voice carried across the room so strongly that everything around them shook, triggering the threat of anything fragile to break. Everyone had to stop, and wait out the movement of their surroundings. "Since when did a criminal have his right to be there to hold the children of his enemies? He tried to kill you, if you forgotten, Tigress. He killed others when he laid waste to the Valley."

"He was there to talk." Po replied. He tried not to flinch when Shifu's eyes reopened on him."About what his intentions were... and to meet his nephews."

Shifu hunched forward, suddenly feeling ill at the thought. "He has done nothing to earn the title as their Uncle."

"As a matter of fact," Tigress spoke through gritted teeth. "When it came to saving my sons earned him the rights."

Li and Mr Ping stared at her, clearly bewildered. "He... what?" Shifu asked, slowly straightening up.

Tigress folded her arms and looked away, her motion leaving her in-laws, and Master Shifu to look at Po for an answer. He sighed. "It's true. When Tigress was sick... he looked after her when I walked out those doors everyday to protect the Valley."

All four men looked to the ground.

Things were proved difficult followed by the miracle that took it's place in the Valley. When the twins were born, Tigress took a dramatic turn. Bed ridden with an unknown illness, she was out of training for a year. Her days consisted of constant check ups, worsening bedsores, the battle to get better... and to look after her new born sons on top of all the stress and concerns when Po was out defending the Valley. Transferring her to the Palace was out of the question, as she refused to let the villagers see her so weak, although they were aware of her health status. Shifu, Mr. Ping, and Li would stay by her when the Palace Healer took up other duties in the Valley, but they couldn't always be there. For the other Masters, it was alien to see Tigress so fatigue... and for the first while their minds with plagued with their fear of losing her.

It was amazing to see her slowly, but surely, grow stronger again, and her battle was victorious when she walked back into the Training Hall for the first time in three hundred and sixty-five days, with their sons totally bowled over at the sight of their mother doing what she did best. This time, however, was when Woo and Shang came into the picture. Shang made sure he was Tigress' doctor. He couldn't bare the thought of losing another sister... or at least, a potential sister. As for Woo, he made it his mission to ask both Po and Tigress not to try for another child.

We don't want China to loose a good warrior, we don't want to loose a valuable member of the team... and we don't want the boys losing their mother. If you wish for another child... then consider adoption. Firstly, Po and Tigress agreed, as they thought their gifts from the Gods was the only one they'd receive... until seven years later.

"Tai Lung did everything he could; he fed her, helped her look after Tigro and Lotus... heck, he even cleaned the house when she could bare stand." Po felt a lump in his throat at the memory. His paw moved its way up to his throat, and as he spoke, he tried to massage the feeling away softly.

"Reluctant as we were, we saw that he was trying, and we gave him the chance... and then one day, he proved himself." Everyone looked at Tigress, who had her turn looking at the floor. "Po was needed by Mr. Ping and Li..."

"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?" A worried Po asked. Tigress opened her eyes and saw him standing in the doorway, a paw resting on the body of the door. "I'm sure I can get someone to-"

"Po," Tigress slowly sat up, groaning softly as she held her head. "You're needed in the Valley, you must go." She smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine." She looked towards the cot beside her. Hoisting herself up, she swung her legs over the edge, and placed her own paw on the top of the cradle's bars, and began to rock it side to side. There was a gentle cooing from within, as her sons slept soundly, both cuddled up to their father's old panda doll. "Besides; Viper and Crane are helping in the Valley hospital, Mantis is still helping the pandas know their way around the Valley, Shifu is at the meeting with Woo, and Monkey has Chang to look after..." she smiled down at her miracles, before frowning slightly. "I don't want to be a heavier burden on their everyday tasks then I already am."

"Tigress..." he walked back in and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "You're not a burden. Your health is important to all of us. We just want you to be looked after..." Not like the many messages littering the fireplace in the living room didn't prove so. "And given any needed assistance with the boys when I'm not here."

The feline soon found her head resting on her husband's shoulder, smiling up at him. "I'm fine honestly... I can look after myself for a while." As reluctant as he was, he kissed her on the cheek, ran his finger along his sons' ears, and dashed out. "Food's on the dresser," he said as he left. "Love you kitten."

"Love you too." She replied, before turning her attention back onto Tigro and Lotus, somehow sleeping through their father's heavy steps down the stairs, and out of the house. Silence soon followed, and when she was sure he was gone, her gaze met the steaming bowl of noodles across the room. Tigress took a deep breath. "Okay," she told herself quietly, still worried she'll wake up the sleeping cubs. "I can do this."

She hadn't gotten out of her bed in months, but the aching pain in her stomach that begged for food was encouraging her to get up and move. She stood up slowly, feeling an uncomfortable weight on her stomach once standing upright without anything to lean on. Gripping her stomach tightly before hunching forward, Tigress sucked it up and took small, wobbly steps to the dresser. Soon she was triumphant as she had the bowl in her paw, and back in bed, eating away. Of course she felt sick a quarter way through, and slowly placed it on the bedside table, and soon followed her sons' into an semi-unconscious state.

End of Flashback.

"I don't remember a lot of what happened after." She spoke almost bluntly. "However, I remember being held down as bandits took my sons and fled. Knowing I couldn't fight back. Tai Lung found them on his way here. He fought the bandits, and brought my cubs back, doing something I physically couldn't." Her jaw tightened almost painfully, not finding it within her to keep going. Shifu, Li, and Mr. Ping just stared at her in horror, hanging onto ever word that came out of her mouth. "He knew he was needed, and stepped up to be there so everyone else could have been relied on and have their daily routine made harder."

And with that, she walked out of the Hall of Heroes, slamming the door behind her with Po's eyes on her. There was a long pause after the bang.

"Do you... really trust him?" Shifu asked quietly.

Po looked back at his Master, dragging out his sigh like it was the millionth time he was asked this question. "Yeah, I do. After that? He proved himself worthy to earn my trust... Tigress and I are following the Master's Creed... in the time of when one of darkness tries to better themselves, we ourselves must do all we can to assist."

"Is that... how she felt about her health?" Mr. Ping's eyes welled up in tears. "Illness is never easy for anyone, but Tigress was not a burden-"

"We know that, and now with our third child coming," Po gave the door behind him a glance over the shoulder. "She has it in her head this will come around again... not like some people's attitudes make it any easier."

"Attitudes?" Li spoke up.

He didn't have to say anything, but they all rotated their heads to regard Shifu; he just stared on at the door wordlessly, almost weak at the knees.

Hope you like chapter 12 guys!

I'm flying out to Lanzarote for a week in a few days, so I may not be in the mindset to write through the period I'm away. The exams have rotted my brain! I'm trying to write a novel and make a collection of poetry in real life, and get ready for adulthood sooo, I'll leave y'all with this for the time being.

Another Take To A Mishap has been updated, and I do plan to upload a songfic collection soon, so I'll be asking for requests for songs and characters!

Have a sizzling summer! I'll get back to writing chapter 13 as soon as I get back!

Ciao!