Chapter 28

The Hall of Heroes was barren when he came through the doors. No one was there to accompany him as his limped down the area's grand length, taking in everything around him, like he did every other time he came into the room. Every surface was glinting gloriously...

"You knew that I was the Dragon Warrior!" Snarled a voice behind him... in which he turned to face behind him with a darker hue. Tai Lung's silhouette was lingering, looming over him by stretching tightly across the ground, confronting him just like in the last battle. "You always knew..."

Did he really? There was a lot he didn't always know. It wasn't until several days ago that he realized that Tai Lung was alive, well, aged, and breathing... only to tell them all about who Sapphire really was. She should've been here, with him, not in Bao Gu, where Tigress' had suffered. Had? Shifu just frowned when he neared the meditation pool. Nobody had to say it; she continued to suffer long after she left, and he made himself blind from seeing himself as the cause.

That made him wobble that bit quicker to his destination.

Sapphire just stared down at the contents in the satchel Po just dropped off. He didn't say what they were, just that they would change her view... on what?

In an attempt to formulate a reasonable answer, her eyes fell on Tai Lung. He hadn't stirred, nor had has he made a sound... looking down at the scrolls again, Sapphire inhaled sharply, and plucked one out, still watching him. Just by feeling it, the parchment was small, indicating the length of characters sealed within. 21 was written on the spine. Her paws proceeded to open it, her eyes eventually scanning the thin surface;

A lot of things are going through my mind right now...

Tigress has given birth this morning; two boys, instead of speculation it was only one. The other Master's left merely two hours before my arrival, and Po let me hold them almost immediately. It had been a long time since I held a baby... and that was you.

Her breathing stopped abruptly. This scroll was for her...

I was nervous to be brutally honest, and with Po and Tigress practically staring down at me, it didn't really help all that much.

I made some comment about how small they were in my arms. Tigro was in my right arm until he started crying, and when Po took him out of the room, I had Lotus, to younger one out of the two, on his own. I just stared down at him, trying to remember if you were that small back then.

At one point I held him up close enough for him to grab my nose. It wasn't sore... but there was a hit of realization. It reminded me that you were fifteen years old...

(Cue "Never Gonna Be Alone" by Nickelback)

Time, is going by, so much faster than I-

And it had been fifteen years since I held you for the first and last time.

And I'm starting to regret not spending all of it with you...

Her eyes fell to him again.

"Tigress?" Shifu shuffled into the medical wing, where he found no one else but Tigress there, asleep. He stood there, ears flattened across his head.

Now I'm, wondering why, I've kept this bottled inside...
So I'm starting to regret not telling all of this to you.

Before she knew it, Sapphire was sitting closer to his bed, reading scroll number 19, looking up at him every once in a while.

So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...

"...Never forget our love is unconditional,
Even if we are in a duration of departure..." she decided to read aloud, to make sure he knew was reading these. "That's what was in that box your mother left you with. I helped her think up that... but when I heard that name... it was just perfect for you..."

You're never gonna be alone-

Shifu was right beside the bed, sitting on a stool, wringing his paws together, staring down at the blank scroll beside him on the side table.

From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go...

"Sapphire is a smart girl." He piped up, before picking up the brush. "She had made me realize something I was too foolish to see..."

I won't let you fall

Scroll number 20, he spoke about where he had been through the years after Po 'erased' him. He had been travelling under several names in every first village he arrived to in every province; Li Chang, Chang Ping... she had to laugh at some of the names; they were utterly ridiculous, and made no sense.

You're never gonna be alone
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone...

Po peeked through the door, and smiled at the scene. "It was in my selfishness, my cowardly fear, and doubt that you could into him." His wife, unconsciously listening to what Shifu had to say, although it was a slow, and hard process.

And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands...

He spoke of his daily slaving duties through that time; catering, cleaning, sweeping... speaking in such language she had yet to hear spew from his mouth. It was of a younger man who was fueled with hate... and revenge...

'Cause forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you,

His gave his voice a break, and spent some of the time writing his thoughts on the scroll, watching her every now and again. As much as the twins pined their father to go in, Po assured them that Mommy was resting... and their grandfather needed to be with her at the moment.

So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know-

You're never gonna be alone

Every scroll plucked at random had its own number. Number 12 came around, her mind was wrapping around the fact he was remembering every single one of her birthdays he missed in italics on the top of every scroll, just in the top right corner.

Your turning 12 now... at this time of year I've always wondered what I would get you... what hobbies and interests you have. I always liked to think you were artistic like you mother, with the chance to be a bit of scroll-worm. I hope you don't turn out like me... it isn't the life to live.

From this moment on...

if you ever feel like letting go

Before he knew it, it was dusk, and she still hadn't stirred. The twins came in to wish her good night, along with their father, whom brought food in for the two. "I can't wake her..." Shifu said gently.

I won't let you fall...

Staring at the Jade Palace through the window briefly, Sapphire wondered if Tigress was okay... but she couldn't leave Tai Lung on his own.

When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on

Po grew concerned, but neither of them had to do anything. Tigro and Lotus whispered 'Mama', and it caused her to stir. Her eyes opened slowly, igniting all the males in the room to close in slightly. Looking at each of them slowly, her eyes finally hit the Red Panda, and she smiled softly, his heart quickening slightly.

We're gonna see the world out...

She sat up carefully, and hugged her two sons tightly when they ran for her. She certainly looked fine; there was that pregnancy glow, quick reflexes, more of her voice than actions...

Shifu took a breath. Now was the time to really talk.

I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone...

Oh

Each scroll hit the ground eventually, apart from the final one that sat in Sapphire's grasp tightly.

Never have I regretted so much in life, than ruining your life.

You've gotta live every single day

If I left that night, like your mother asked me to, I wouldn't have missed all the important parts of your life; first word, first steps, school... the list just goes on and on.

Like it's the only one, what if tomorrow never comes?

The moment that Panda had me in the Wushi-finger-hold, I knew I failed you. I thought that becoming the Dragon Warrior, reuniting with you and your mother, would give you a lifestyle a poor man can only dream about...

That poor man being me. If the Gods ever grant me the opportunity to see you again, if what comes out of my mouth fails...

Don't let it slip away

Hopefully this scroll, and any other ones I make, can help you see.

Could be our only one, you know it's only just begun...

I can only hope I'm alive to see the day.

Every single day

It was quiet... and awkward. Shifu cradled his bowl, while Tigress sat across from him, watching him intently as he ran his chopsticks along the rim of the bowl. "There's something you need to read..." He said, gesturing at the scroll beside her.

Maybe our only one, what if tomorrow never comes?

Wordlessly, she scooped it up, and unraveled it.

Tomorrow never comes...

Time, is going by, so much faster than I...

Sapphire finally sat the final scroll on her lap, mouth slightly agape at the last sentence. Reality struck her, and she sprang from the stool, and to his side. He was still breathing... but there was a stir.

And I'm starting to regret not telling all of this to you!

You're never gonna be alone!

When Shang came into the room, he was more that surprised to find Tigress and Shifu embracing. Smiling softly, he quietly back out of the room, and went to find Jasmine, Po and the others.

From this moment on...

If you ever feel like letting go!

There was a soft groan... and his eyes fluttered open, narrowing at the tight hold she had on his paw.

"Dad?"

I won't let you fall...

He only had to blink once, and he gaze was averted to her. "Sapphire?" He said hoarsely, before she burst into tears, and collapsed in a heap on the floor beside his bed.

When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on...

He grunted with the pain in his lower abdomen, but he had something else to worry about. Turning onto his side, pain screaming within the depth of his muscles, he kept a firm grip on her paw as he leaned over the side of the bed. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

We're gonna see the world out...

She continued to cry while she stood back up again. He tried to sit up, but she begged him not to move. "I'm sorry..." she whimpered, encasing his paw into both of hers. "Thank you..."

I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone...

I'm gonna be there always

That morning, when she woke up, Shifu was sleeping in the corner on a spare futon, her husband was sitting beside her with their two sons, and Shang was standing over her.

"Ti... we have something to show you." Shang passed Tigress the scroll, and she took her time to read it.

I won't be missing one more day

Soon it hit her lap as Shang knelt down and embraced her too. "Never again will we be apart..." he whispered, "baby sister..."

I'm gonna be there always

When Jasmine crept into the room the next day, she found Sapphire curled up in Tai Lung's arms. He was awake, but she was dead to the world. Soft intakes of air, her cheek fur matted by her tears. Jasmine and Tai Lung made eye contact almost immediately, and she just smiled at him with pure happiness, moving to pass him another blanket, as he stared back down at her.

I won't be missing one more day

All he saw was his baby girl, fast asleep in his arms.

I know it's a little short guys but I didn't want you guys without any updates for too long.

I'm guessing there's two more chapters left... feels weird saying that!

Hope you liked this, please review!

Ciao!