15

"Mono?" Chang called out breathlessly, as Lotus, Tigro, and himself, settled down their satchels by the door entrance of the bunk house. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Silence fell as the echos of his voice died. They searched the kitchen, the cupboard that held the cleaning supplies, the barracks, and even the vegetable garden outback. "Find anyone?" The twins shook their head simultaneously.

It was a speedy day; the class got a lot of their work done, and as an award, the teacher let them off without homework. They had been home, and everyone was present. It was only when Po sent them down to the village to collect various ingredients for dinner that they emptied the contents of their bags, and set off once again. It didn't seem like a long time gathering contents of the list together, but the Apple Cart Duck asked for their assistance to bring a bag of apples to an old lady close by, the doctors in the hospital who missed their lunch, and to a family of goats close to their Grandfather's restaurant.

Tigro's initial reaction to the sight of the noodle shop immediate 'let's go see Grandpa!' but seeing the property empty, they figured that he had gone out. And so they panicked when they realized the time, knowing that a search party would be sent out for them, thus making a dart for the Palace. And now, sweaty and breathless, they were greeted by a seemingly empty house.

"Maybe they had a mission they had to go to." Lotus suggested, which may have been possible, but Tigress wasn't around like she usually was if that ever was the case. No one was there to ask them how their day was, or if there was any homework to do before their afternoon training could begin.

"Maybe... but they would've left a note if Mom wasn't here to see us at the door." Tigro squatted down to look under the table. "Doesn't seem to be anyone here...let's try the Hall of Heroes," he led the trio to their destination. A group of the Palace Cleaners were stopped before entering the hall, to see if they were inside. The cleaners told them they had no idea where they were, and kept on their own path towards the steps. Tigro was about to push his weight against the heavy doors, until he heard a soft mumbles between the other trio.

"They have him down in the dungeon until Shifu decides what to do next."

"What on earth were they thinking of trusting Tai Lung?!"

"Shifu said keep the children from the dungeon... shouldn't we steer them away from the Hall of Heroes?"

"They have no clue what's going on... the dungeon is the last place they'd go to."

Lotus saw the confusion on his brother's face. "What do you think they meant by that?" He heard the talk too. Tigro just shrugged and pushed the door open with Chang's assistance. They were quickly greeted by a darkened hall, with no familiar face in sight.

"Not even Li or Master Shifu are here..." Chang said, folding his arms. "Where do you think they went?"

"I don't know... but let's go down to the dungeon." Lotus told the monkey what he and Tigro heard the Palace Staff say. "They have someone down there."

"They must be down there for a reason that has nothing to do with us." Chang emphasized. "C'mon," he looked back towards the open door behind them. "We can check out the Suite; someone's ought to be here."

"But why would someone be down in the dungeon... and who would that be?" Chang soon was over thrown with curiosity, and they slowly made their way to the dungeon.

The smell wasn't too welcoming. Scents that they couldn't identify weren't the nicest, but helped shadow the long echoing corridor in a dank and darker light. Chang and Lotus covered their noses at the stench that couldn't be described, while Tigro tried to push past and ignore it. "Hello?" Tigro sent out his voice bravely, almost jumping at the volume of his voice jumping off the walls. Chang peered into the dimly lit area, before gasping and pointing towards the end of the hall, where a rattle of chains rang out.

"Is someone down here?" Lotus asked next.

"Lotus? Tigro?" They followed the sudden voice by a brisk jog. Closing near the dead end, Tigro and Lotus picked up their pace. Tai Lung was close to the bars of his cell. His large golden eyes watched them run towards him, nearly crashing into the bars. Chang hung back slightly, narrowing his eyes by a slight twitch, searching for anything off this man he may recognize. He was freakishly tall (compared to the small monkey), and his muscles were massive, and his eyes were almost hauntingly bright.

"Uncle Tai Lung!" Lotus rattled the bars, trying to pry the door open.

"Don't Lotus, I'm fine..." Kneeling to their level, he didn't seem so scary. Chang watched from a comfortable distance, Lotus' arm squeezing through the bars, his paw settling atop of this strangers'. His eyes were swollen with surprise, the bruises on his cheek highlighted by a nearby torch. "What're you boys doing down here?"

"We could ask you the same thing..." Tigro's voice trailed off as he turned around to see Chang looking at Tai Lung in the shadows soundlessly. "Chang, it's okay, come say hello!" Tai Lung rose his head, narrowing his eyes, trying to see what the boy could. With a cautious intake of air for some encouragement, the little monkey moved closer, staring up at the snow leopard, totally bewildered by his friendly facade.

"Hello little Chang, I'm Tai Lung." Tai Lung reached out, and his ginormous paw gently closed over Chang's little delicate one. "We finally meet."

"Are you my uncle too?" Chang tilted his head to the side as their paws shook to establish their acquaintanceship.

Tai Lung chuckled. "If you wish me to, then I will."

Chang wasn't sure how to answer him, so he changed the topic quickly. "Why are you in the cage sir, and in chains?" Tai Lung stood up once they released each other, the chains hugging his wrists right on cue.

"Yeah... what did you do wrong?" Tigro asked, sounding a little worried. "Only bad people come down here."

As the child spoke, Tai Lung retraced his steps and took his place on the bench. l"Your grandfather wasn't too happy to see me, so he wanted me in here to make sure I don't break anything."

"But why would he do that?" Lotus asked, hanging onto the bars like he was also in detention. "You never broke anything... did you?"

"I have..." Looking down the floor, he was readying himself to tell them. They're old enough to deserve the truth, he told himself. They need to know the story... Tai Lung was ready to tell them every stitch of detail on the cloth of his past, but when looking up to face them, he stopped. Lotus and Tigro were staring right into his soul, without them even knowing they had the power to do so, igniting a sharp pain across his head.. and when reopening them...

"Cut it!" Her silken voice was ruffled with angry authority. The others sliced at the ropes securing the bridge to the mountain. They were too slow, to his advantage, and he was almost upon them when Tigress snapped the final rope. But Tai Lung was too close and in an act of instinct, Tigress launched herself into him, her foot smashing into his chest...

"Where's the Dragon Warrior?"

"How do you know you're not looking at her?" Tai Lung laughs. It echoes off the mountain walls. "You think I'm a fool? I know you're not the Dragon Warrior. None of you!" Crane, Monkey, Viper and Mantis exchanged quick, worried looks, and Tigress glared at him, baring teeth as he nodded confidently. "I heard how he fell out of the sky on a ball of fire, that he's a warrior unlike anything the world has ever seen." He mingled with life and death walking along the rope with no assistance.

The Five exchange quick, confused looks as Tigress growled at him. "Po?" Monkey asked a little too loudly to no one in particular.

"So that is his name - Po. Finally," his voice broke with a minor cackle, "a worthy opponent. Our battle will be legendary!"

He was ready for her charge. They threw punchs, and she threw him over the bridge... and they were both somehow hanging there over the vast gorge still fighting. She was strong then, but he was stronger...

He swiftly countered with a maneuver that sends Tigress slamming backwards through the bridge's wooden slats. Slicing the handles, he spun the craft until the twist pattern flew along the rope... catching Tigress within a tight hold around her neck. She cried out for air, and in the brief moment he had to watch before Viper made a grab for him, he could taste the fear that crept over her. Even better, back at the time, when Viper's attack allowed him to let go of the ropes... and she plummeted into the cloudy gorge below.

...

With a crash, he suddenly rose to stand behind the Five, each of them staring at him with fear, shock, and disbelief. "Shifu taught you well..." Tai Lung jabbed a finger at Monkey, who instantly froze and hit the ground. The others gasped in shock, and Tai Lung remembered the feeling of pride running through him as Tigress, of them all, couldn't find the time to defend herself. "But he didn't teach you everything. ..."

His eyes reopened with a gasp.

"It's not easy to take it all in at once," a soft, soothing voice sang into his ear as he felt something move in his paws. "But knowing she's yours makes it all that more exciting..."

Tai Lung's eyes opened to the sound of a soft melody... a baby's cry. He eyes descend, and there she is; a small little thing, wrapped securely in a swaddling cloth, trying to get her little chubby arms free. His eyes widened with shock, and before he knew it, his face was closing in on her, until the little infant was staring right up at him, with the same look he had. "A carving out of you..." he whispered, and the baby laughed when he held her against his chest.

"But there's you in there too... she's your daughter my love..."

Shaking his head and rubbing his eyes, he turned away from the three boys, not baring enough courage to look at Tigro and Lotus.

He sat far into the chair, awaiting for his empty arms to be filled... and they were, by two small, squirming bodies. It had been a long time since he held one baby, let alone too, and he was trying not to show his nervousness.

Looking up, Po sat in front of him, granting a small ounce of space in case he had to take them back. Tigress was in the bed behind him, tiredly watching them, her breathing only noticed in the slow rise and fall in her chest. Before he arrived at the house, she had been peacefully passed out, while Shifu and the others were there, but now that he was there... she wanted to watch him like a hawk.

Nodding at him encouragingly, he held one baby in each arm, staring down at them in amazement. "And to think they're part panda... you wouldn't think so, huh?" Tai Lung spoke softly, almost afraid to speak any higher.

"Too much of their mother in there..." Po glanced a Tigress over his shoulder, and she grinned almost evilly.

"They're so small... which is which?"

"Surprisingly enough they were born right on time..." The he proceeded to show Tai Lung which was Tigro (in his right arm), and which was Lotus (in his left.)

Tigro, started to cry softly, and Tai Lung felt stumped. "Here, lemme see him..." The snow leopard's heart twisted a little. "They were only born today... everything is so new to them... they've seen enough new faces now I think." Po cradled his first born, chuckling softly as his second laid in the snow leopard's large paws, almost fitting in one alone. Tigress just kept watching, stone cold. "Maybe he's just hungry... I'll be back." And he got up and brought him downstairs to make bottles, knowing Tigress wasn't up for feeding.

Now with both arms able to cuddle the second infant, Tai Lung just wordlessly studied him, moving one paw behind then child's head, and the other cushioning the rest of it's body. It was indeed a long time since he had a tiny squirming thing in his hold... fifteen years to be somewhat precise. This time, this child's arms were free, and he moved a lot more cos he had the opportunity to. Without realizing it, Tai Lung held the cub up to his face, observing every small detail. "How on earth could a panda and tiger make something like this..." he thought aloud, catching Tigress' attention.

"Oogway always said the world works in mysterious ways... and always expect the unexpected." She had a fake smile on her face, and he would've taken it as a true one if it wasn't for her eyes slowly shrinking to define her undivided attention of his every waking move.

"Look," Tai Lung sighed a little, starting to lower the baby. "If you're not comfortable with me holding him-" but he was interrupted when the baby had a light grab of his nose, letting out a little laugh.

"Look's like someone's trying to say hello," Tigress whispered.

Before Tai Lung's heart could register the joyous sound in a positive light, it brought back the memory of his daughter. That little girl he only got to see once...

Po was just coming back down stairs, where he found the snow leopard, leaning forward, the baby still holding his nose, but not understanding why the eyes of this new face were welling up with tears, and his wife sharing the same muddled look at the sight.

"Tai Lung sir? Are you alright?"

The thoughts having such bitterness between and Tigress seemed alien, and realizing the moment he held Lotus when Po wasn't in the room brought him back to holding his daughter for the first time, but seeing someone fall to their doom was enough to shake anyone to the core... but he had pride in that action... how could he not cripple with guilt looking at them? How can he not look at Sapphire having that feeling dwell deep down?

"All you need to know now, is that, I wasn't a good man before." He said quietly, holding his head while his eyes looked at the floor. Tigro and Lotus' faces crinkled into looks of confusion. "I hurt a lot of people in the past... "

"Like who?"

"Shifu, your mother... and Sapphire."

Tigro gasped and jumped up and down excitedly, ignoring Tai Lung's disheartened mask. "So Sapphire is our cousin!"

"Yes... but because of what I have done a long time ago, I hurt her."

"Physically?"

"No... I couldn't look after her."

Lotus knelled down close enough to the bars for his knees to touch them. "So... that's why Mom helped her in the orphanage." Tai Lung nodded, his pinkie itching the side of his eye to feel for any tears. "Oh... and she won't talk to you because of that?"

He nodded again, a fist of guilt growing in his stomach. "It still hurts her... try think of something you did to someone that was mean, did it hurt their feelings really badly?"

The three boys thought long and hard about what he said, until Chang raised his opinion to their attention. "I've seen other people hurt one another... and I don't think they speak anymore."

Tai Lung's thumb and ring finger lightly pressing on his closed eyes, like he was trying to subside the pang of a headache. "That's how Shifu... and Sapphire feels with me... I hurt them in the past, and neither of them want to forgive me."

"Have you said sorry to him yet?" Lotus suggested, making the feline chuckle.

"No... I haven't a chance to," that was a lie; he had apologized- or at least tried to, when Shifu was down with him, and the old Master didn't want to hear any of it. Like a stubborn child, it was like he stuck his fingers in his ears, and mentally lala'd over the words, so any words of respect bounced off him with no affect, and continued to place a the ever growing barrier between them.

"Master..."

"I'm not your Master."

"It's more respectful by just calling you 'Shifu', isn't it?"

"I don't care what you call me."

"Then are you going to hear out what I'm going to say?" Tai Lung rubbed his sore wrists. "I mean, you've heard about what I said about Sapphire, but now's the time I can-"

"I have other things to worry about than your late delivered apology letters." He hissed lowly, and began to walk away. "But what I will say... is thank you."

Tai Lug found this strange. A second ago the old panda was angry with him for returning, and surrendering so easily... and now he's thanking him? "What for?"

"For helping Tigress... when I couldn't." And just like that, he left.

Tai Lung was alone in the cell once again, but quickly became aware of what he meant. "You're... you're welcome." He said out loud...

Chang just smiled up at him, his little arm wriggling through the bars, and reaching out to Tai Lung, who took shelter in the dim light on the bench. "Well when you get the chance to, prove you are really sorry!"

Tai Lung smiled, rising off the bench, and knelt down to shake the little Monkey's paw. "I'll do just that." He looked down at the little guy's very small , barely reaching the center of his Just then seemingly large paw, but Chang seemed to find it funny.

BANG!

Three boys leapt away from the cell door, eyes darted straight towards the end of the hall, where two dark figures appeared. They seemed to look around frantically, before noticing them. Tai Lung growled slightly, ready to pry the bars apart to take on the two, but it soon came to see they were Master Monkey and Crane racing towards them

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Monkey hollered. Chang chattered in fear of his father's raised tone of voice; obviously something he wasn't used to. "What were you thinking coming down here?!"

"Mono-" He whimpered, before Crane grabbed him, and then the twins, pulling them away from the cell. Tai Lung didn't say anything in their defense, let alone his, so he just stepped away, ready to sit himself back on the bench, but Monkey's anger, and Crane's shaking form was new to him; in battle they were never like this, and Monkey was only violent towards him if he felt threatened... however, this time round Tai Lung sensed something more.

"Uncle Crane what's going on?" Tigro asked worriedly.

"You just need to come with us to the medical wing kiddo, kay? We'll explain when we get there." Tai Lung could sense something was definitely wrong, and the twins looked at one another with fright, and allowed the bird grabbed them by the paws, placing Chang on his back, and walking towards the exit.

"Master Monkey," the primate paused mid step, and merely looked over his shoulder. "What's was going on?"

Monkey scoffed, " something that is none of your concern." Monkey glared at him hatefully. "Just don't make things any harder and stay there."

"Tell me," Tai Lung felt a growl echo from his throat, his paws gripping onto the lines of chains that kept him stuck to the wall. "I can help."

"What use are you?" Monkey snapped. "You're no miracle worker."

His unwise words flicked the danger switch within Tai Lung. With a roar, Tai Lung leapt for the door, pulling the chains off the wall. Although it wasn't a hard enough blow to break down the door, it was a swift move that allowed him to grab the simian by the fur on his chest before he could get away. Pulling him so quick that both their head banged against the bars, Monkey faced the infuriated snow leopards. "If it involves well being of Tigress, Sapphire, and the boys it is my concern."

"Why do you care?"

"I've been around long enough to realize how much they mean to me. If anything happened to any them, I would never forgive myself for not helping. If you have any love for those kids... or Tigress, you'd understand where I'm coming from." Tightening his grip, Monkey's face began to twist into an expression of pain. "Now, what. Is. Going. On?"

Monkey swallowed nervously, now seeing the sincerity in the burning gold orbs, he nodded. "OK." Letting the primate go, it gave him the space to whip out a key, opening the door, and delatching the cuffs from his wrists. "C'mon."

"What's happened?" They started running on all fours, as if racing neck-in-neck.

"Tigress has collapsed..." his eyes widened, "and Shang is still trying to find out what's wrong with her." With dialated puils and a heartbeat going sky high, Tai Lung td him to lead the way, and they ran to the medical wing, fearing the worst.

And there you go! Another chapter in the space of a few days!

Please review and let me know what you think!

Ciao!