17

The sooner Po, Monkey and Viper were ready to leave, Li and Mr. Ping were brought to the Palace, told the news, and when the trio were ready to go, they had to face a teary Mr. Ping, a distraught Li, and three very confused boys. Tai Lung watched on from a pillar, leaning against it with his arms folded stiffly. He had said nothing at all, and wasn't planning to in case a simple bid of luck to Po would set Shifu off. Instead, he said it on the way out when he and Po hung back behind everyone.

Outside the Palace, everyone who was staying behind faced those who were leaving, who bore satchels on their backs. "We'll be back as soon as we can," Monkey reassured the goose, patting him on the back. "In the meantime," he smiled at Chang, who just looked back at him, expressionless. "I want you on your best behavior."

"I will Mono..." Chang said, before looking at the ground.

"Why do you have to go?" Lotus stood by his mother, eyes ascended to his father. "What's going on Dad?" Po just knelt down, and beckoned his sons over with open arms. They ran into him within a heartbeat, heads knocking into his shoulders. Hugging them tightly, Po and Tigress locked eyes. She just bore into him, before her face grimaced slightly, turning her head away from him. Shang, who stood on one side of her, wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Your mother isn't feeling well," Po said slowly, as the boys pulled themselves off him, and turned to their mother in worry. "Your Uncle, Auntie and I have to go get the medicine she needs to get better."

"Will the baby be okay too?" Tigro asked, his eyes not falling from her.

"Of course it will," Viper said, smiling softly. "And it would be so great if you helped take care of your Mommy while we're gone too." Watching Po as she said this, he nodded enthusiastically.

"Can you do that for me?" He questioned, before they nodded, and hugged him again. Kissing them on the cheek before releasing them, and ruffling Chang on the head, Tigress moved towards him, arms gently folded around each other against her chest.

"You're crazy." She whispered, and he stood up just chuckled at her hidden paranoia. "You don't need to leave..."

"People do crazy things for the ones they love..." They folded themselves into a hug, done in a way that Tigress' chin was hooked onto his shoulder. "I'm not letting you go... and this is gonna help you. I'd rather risk it all." He said softly, tightening the hug. "I love you Tigress..."

"I love you too," she smiled to herself, but felt a tear letting itself run down her cheek. When they pulled away, he held her face, gently wiped her cheek as their heads touched, and they shared a kiss, and Tigro and Lotus immediately hugged their Mom when she backed away from her husband. Monkey held Chang in his arms, telling him to be good, and assist in anyway he can. With a tearful yes, the three Masters bowed to the others, who did the same in return, while Tai Lung nodded in return.

"When you find Jun, Sapphire, Yuki, Lok, and Yumi, notify them," Shifu's arms linked behind his back. "It's all paws and wings on deck."

"We will," Po looked at Tai Lung.

"Get back safe," Tai Lung said, gaining a grin from the panda, and a surprised look from everyone else. "Can't stand anymore havoc..." Shifting his eyes to lock with Shang, he added 'she's in good paws,' earning a conspicuous wary manner from him.

"I know she is," Po nodded firmly. "And we'll be back as soon as we can."

And off the three went, descending down the steps, with Po taking the lead. Tigress continued to watch them in well defined focus, her fist balled against the side of her stomach, until a small, tentative paw wormed its way into it. Glancing down to her left, Lotus rubbed his head against her paw. "You'll be alright... won't you?" Averting her gaze back down the steps to no longer see Po, Monkey, and Viper, she breathed in, and wordlessly bent down to see him eye to eye, and kissed his forehead. Chang and Tigro moved to her, and she embraced all three of them. "We're here Mama..."

"I know you are..." She whispered, her cheek resting on her son's head.

Shifu felt a small tug on the sleeve of his tunic, and turned to see Mr. Ping, wringing his wings together worriedly. "The journey isn't... dangerous, is it?" He asked, his voice wobbling.

"No," Shifu patted his shoulder reassuring. "They have to travel to several small villages, and to Gongmen City to retrieve the ingredients."

"Oh," Woo sighed with bordem. "Not very thrilling is it?"

"Not at all, but it doesn't lose it's value."

There they watched Crane assist her to stand, and stir her back to the Medical Wing, with Mantis, Shang, followed by Mr. Ping, and Li. Crane rubbed her back when he saw the sick spell take over her in her sudden wobbly steps.

"C'mon, let's get you settled." Li spoked softly, catching up and guiding her along by the paw. Tigress' heavy eyes elevated up to his. They locked for a few seconds, before Li gave a soft, worried frown as her gaze tranferred back to the ground. The children turned their gaze to Shifu, who gestured them to follow, and the three rushed after them, leaving Woo, Shifu and Tai Lung outside. Mr. Ping just welcomed the three under his wings once the doors closed.

There was a long silence. "I await for my first assignment," Tai Lung stated suddenly, pulling himself off the pillar, and standing tall. "Do I assist in the Medical and follow them, or the children...?" Woo and Shifu glanced at each other; the Gazelle's eyes grew wide at the words. They completely forgot Tigress had asked him to be involved.

"Well... it's fair that whatever Tigress wishes you to do so, you serve that." Shifu said uncertainly. Tai Lung nodded slowly, before excusing himself to go to the medical wing.

Woo cleared his throat, and straightened his tunic. "As long as you keep your head down," Woo stuck his nose up, peering at him through narrow slits as Tai Lung placed a paw on the door's third dimensional engravings. "And stop causing curses, it will make things a lot easier."

"What?" Tai Lung glared at him, his ears flicking angrily. Shifu immediately moved in to stop the arguing. "If you think I'd ever, inflict this on Tigress-"

"Say no more," Shifu spoke through gritted teeth, his staff elevating high enough to clasp Tai Lung around the throat. "The last thing we need is an argument at a time like this."

Woo smirked triumphantly as the snow cat bowed his head in bitter defeat. "Quite right Shifu," he rose a hoof regally, moving his eyes back to the leopard. "Considering you almost killed her in the past, you have no stronger alibi stating you did the complete opposite, that girl is a complete imbecile, trusting the likes of you- AWK!"

Before Tai Lung could react, Shifu sped towards Woo as stealthy as he could, impaling both of them into the pillar, causing the Snow Leopard to stumble back at the force of the wind that came out of the swift movement. With a thud, Woo's head whacked into the wall, with Shifu's left arm rammed against his throat, the very cause of his outcry. "No one, calls Master Tigress an imbecile," Shifu said lowly. "For her to place her trust in Tai Lung, she has a perfectly good reason to do so."

"Hm, maybe so." Woo found the strength to push him away, hard enough for Tai Lung to pull himself off from the door to catch the red panda before he fell. "But that is no excuse to put down your guard... or act like you were never against her in any decisions she has made." He then pointed the accusing hoof at the Snow Leopard, who froze mid action of standing Shifu back on his feet. "Whether it's you or the illegitimate that's stirring the pot, I'd advise you to stop, before anyone else has to get involved."

And with a huff, Woo flounced off down the steps, leaving the two to stop and stare on.

"I really, really, really don't like him." Tai Lung said finally, breaking the silence between them, the wind, and the rustling leaves that moved along the platform.

The red panda rubbed his eyes in annoyance, as if to stimulate the withering patience within him. "Try to tolerate him, at the very least... he's just looking for someone to blame..." Shifu said as he brushed himself down. "And for once he's not blaming Tigress."

The snow leopard blinked in confusion, before giving a look of realization. "Well then," Tai Lung folded his arms, and looked at the ground, while Shifu's ears flicked at his voice. "I'd much rather take the blame. Illness comes and goes when it wants to... it's not her, or anyone's fault..." He pushed the doors open behind him, before stopping himself from going in. "Are you coming?" He asked.

Shifu shook his head. "I have something to do." He said. "I'll be back soon."

Tai Lung nodded slowly. "And, Shifu?"

"Mm?"

There was a brief silence before the gentle wind whistled. "Never should we hold grudges against what the heart wants." He ushered.

"What?"

"I mean by Tigress and Po's decision to have a third child..." he sighed a little worriedly. "If Tigress were not to make it through, and the baby lives... would you hold grudges against the oblivious being throughout their life?"

"I..." Shifu's eyes closed. "Never. It's happened before... and the mother didn't make it through. To hear about it is one thing... but to see Tigress go through it, and pull herself to the other side, I don't want it to happen again. I can't-" He stopped himself from going further.

"You can't what?" Tai Lung held the door handle tightly. "Lose a valuable student?"

Shifu glared a him hatefully. "Tigress is more than a student." He spat.

"Dragon Warrior?" Lok asked questioningly as they caught sight of the panda rushing through the village square. Yuki, Yumi, and Jun turned their gaze to see them also, waving them over.

"There you guys are!" Monkey claimed, as they ran over to them.

"Where are you guys off to?" Jun questioned, eyeing the satchels on Monkey and Po's backs. "Is there a mission?"

"Yes... we need you guys to get to the Palace right away, you guys need to..." Vipers mentally counted each of them. "Uh... where's Sapphire?"

"Well, Maters..." Yuki and Yumi chuckled nervously. "Ya see, Sapphire she... kinda... left?"

"WHAT!?" Monkey gasped. "Why?!" Lok raised his eye brows subtlety, and the others just blinked at the primate. "Right... noted." he muttered, slightly flustered. "But we need to find her!"

"How come?" Yuki asked.

So Po explained everything, starting from when Tigress took the fall in the Suite, to the news they all received, and now the ingredients they were setting out to get. Through every word that fell from his mouth, the four of them swallowed it up fearfully. "We need you to help up in the palace," Po explained, pointing to the mountain behind them, "and help take care of her until we get back. We'll be home as soon as possible."

"Of course we will!" Lok declared. "You all helped us in the past, it's about time we returned the favor!"

"Right, and I'll go find Sapphire," Jun stepped up to the task without hesitation. "I know where she's heading." And soon, both parties; the former orphans, and the Masters, went their separate ways, the concerned volumes in tone miraculously not catching the attention of the other villagers. As Yuki, Yumi, and Lok started the dreaded journey of climbing the steps, Jun ran out with Po, Viper, and Monkey. Racing on all fours, he took a brief second to salute the Master, bidding them luck before making a sharp turn a couple yards up north, clawing his way through the thorny brambles, growling and lowly cussing each time a branch whacked him in the face, or when a large collection of thorns pricked and prodded at him.

I shouldn't be far off her trail, he thought as he neared a stranded house in the middle of the forest. She only left about half an hour ago... unless she ran most of the way, damn it!

Was that humming he heard? "You there! Good sir?" Jun shouted, scaring the living day lights out of a pig, who was in the middle of sweeping front area of his house. Closing near him, Jun took a weary breath. "Have you seen a snow leopard around? Blue eyes, about this tall?" His paw measured Sapphire's height, which was just under his chin. "Carrying a guitar?" He needed to make sure she was going the way he thought she was.

"Very pretty?"

Jun blinked, before coughing awkwardly. "Yes."

"I have sir, went that way. "He pointed in a given direction the lion was looking for, and Jun thanked him, and set off running again. A stitch started growing on his left side, and when he thought he was going to keel over, he spotted a small blob, sitting in the shade, and a faint melody was surfing through the air. Squinting his eyes with a glint of hope rising in him, he sighed gleefully, hearing the familiar voice sound off along with the tones of the guitar.

"Sapphire!" He called, but the music kept playing. "SAPHIE!" He hollered, and the music stopped abruptly. The distant body stood up, and looked down his path, where he collapsed half way, and had to drag himself along.

"Jun?" It was her.

"Who else calls you-" WHACK! A sharp slap caught the side of his head.

"And how many told you not to call me that?" She asked.

"Okay, noted-" he heaved, before holding the sore side of his head. Even through the thick pain it managed to be sore enough to make a headache. "But- I needed to make sure- itwasyou!"

"OK, OK, take a breath man!" She pulled him up off the ground, and brushed off his shoulders. "Now, tell me why you ran all this way after me." She asked calmly. "What's the reason?"

"Tigress..." he held up one finger tiredly. "Needs you."

"What for?" Sapphire's chilled facade suddenly turned tensed and angry. "I'm not going back to hear her apologize. I will not be found out... No one can know I'm Tai Lung's biological daughter, don't you get it?!"

"It's not that." Jun's breath slowly came back. "She's grown sick-"

Sapphire raised an eyebrow. "Unlikely story," she spat wickedly. Turning her back, she began retreating her steps. "Now if you excuse me-"

"No, you don't get it! Po, Mantis and Viper left the Palace to get the antidote ingredients..." Sapphire reached out for her guitar, but stopped, a blank expression on her face. "If she doesn't get the medicine, she... or the baby, could die."

Her heart dropped. "What?" She whispered, as fond memories flooded through her mind;

"Excuse me." The stall owner, and the wolf immediately turned to Tigress, whom had Sapphire by her side with a curious look. "This little one," she placed a paw on Sapphire's shoulder, as the girl smiled at the wolf innocently, but her knees were buckling. He smiled back surely enough, but the two of them easily saw him tightening his jaw as soon as he did so after he briefly met with Tigress' eyes. "She loves music, and she was wondering if she could try one of the instruments?"

...

Sapphire knew what the feline meant, and merely bobbed her head without question, before jumping for Tigress, who didn't flinch as she felt Sapphire's arms wrap around her neck, pulling her into a meaningful embrace.

"Thank you..." She whispered, her voice breaking slightly, and tightened her embrace. Tigress slowly wrapped her arms around Sapphire as well, and held the girl against her frame tighter... especially when the child began to cry. Tigress felt eyes turning on them, but she didn't care. As she felt Sapphire shaking against her, while letting out a sob or two, and her shoulder getting a little damp, she rested on her shoulder too.

"It's okay..." she whispered, feeling her own eyes starting to well up. "Just let it out..."

....

Wrapping her arms around Sapphire's upper back, and feel the girl's hanging around her neck, they were embrace, simultaneously moving from side to side, whispering soft messages of joy and happiness. "You're here..." Tigress' voice started cracking up, and her paw slowly touched the back of Sapphire's head. "Safe and sound..."

"Yep..." Sapphire chuckled, but tears were streaming down her cheeks...

Then, of course, was the fight in the suite.

When Sapphire turned around, Tigress was just switching her gaze from the outside to the floor, her paw slowly touching her stomach, eyes slightly wide. "You realize your mistake now, Tigress?" She spoke softly, but also mockingly. Her eyes darkened in triumph as she took a step forth, letting her stand right under Tigress' nose, shoulders squared, paws on her hips, looking up at her, while the Tiger's gaze was fixated straight ahead. "A real mother would protect and keep a high guard for her children... not let a monster loose around them, thinking he's a decent man." And with that, she left...

"What have I done?" She whimpered, before grabbing the guitar, and nodded at Jun. "C'mon, we better get going."

Jun groaned tiredly, "can't I not rest for a minute?"

"Jun!" Sapphire snapped, her fur standing on edge in anger. The last thing she needed was him to act out of line at a time like this. "Now!"

"OK, OK! Jeez..." and they made the journey back, and the whole time Sapphire was quiet. Jun filled her in on what else he knew, which only grew the fist of guilt in her stomach. They fought, and she walked out of those gates when she possibly turned for the worst... she had to make it up to her, in whatever time she had left.

In anyway possible.

And there's chapter 17!

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