A/N: hey guys! Been a crazy few days. SHOUT OUT TO MY NEW FOLLOWERS/ FAVORITES.
These last two chapters will be pretty short and will both be up today. Stay classy ;)
The cool breeze felt good despite the wintry air. Another of snow had laid itself on the ground overnight, so finding a place to sit was a little tricky. Po eventually decided to sit in a quiet corner of the main courtyard to meditate. He had only been sitting for an hour when a presence nearby caused him to crack open one eye.
"Hey." Said Tigress. "Sorry to bother you."
"You'll never bother me. Come sit." He patted the ground next to him. She carefully took a seat, being careful not to rip her stitched thigh again. In the three days once they had returned from Xiongxang, she had been made aware that her thigh needed to be fixed...again. She was supposed to be on bedrest. Po suspected that she had either snuck past Shifu, or he let her out.
"How's your meditation?" He cast her a look. Judging by the look on her face, she was stalling.
"What's up?" He asked her. It was then he took notice of the small scroll that rested by her side.
She sighed. "This came in from Mongolia." She handed it to him. "She escaped, Po. Some of her allies aided her into hiding when she was found guilty."
He groaned and leaned his head back. "So, what now?"
"We go home." He looked at her in surprise. "We've done all we can do. Plus, the winter feast is in two days. You need to be making noodles in the valley in just over forty-eight hours." She joked, elbowing his bicep. "Come on. The others are waiting." She stood carefully and he gladly took her outstretched hand.
They made it to the valley in record time. The Emperor allowed them to take a carriage back, and showed them a better path that wasn't so easily muddied by rain and snow.
By the time they got to the valley entrance, the snow was almost six inches high and falling still. The paper lanterns had been hung in preparation for the big day, and illuminated a path towards the Jade Palace. It wasn't too late past sunset, and many villagers came to greet the weary warriors as they entered. None of them, of course, were louder than Mr. Ping.
"PO!" The small man came hobbling out of his shop absolutely covered in flour. "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" He whacked the Dragon Warrior playfully on the arm with a wooden spoon.
"OW!" Po rubbed his arm and glanced to Tigress. "You see the abuse I go through?" He said it jokingly, but Ping gasped and hugged the man tightly.
"Welcome home, Lotus." Li came out of the shop. He carried Lei Lei in one arm. The little girl also had flour all in her hair. She squirmed when she saw her favorite master and the older man put her down.
"Hello little one." Tigress picked her up.
"We are going to head up to the palace." Viper came over. "You two come up when you're ready." She winked at Tigress and the young redhead blushed. How much did her sister know, exactly?
"Why are you covered in flour, Lei." She asked the little girl, masking her blush. She casually brushed the white powder off of her vest.
"Ping and I was makin' noodles!" She chattered excitedly. "Will you come help?"
Tigress sighed, feeling exhaustion in her bones. "I have to go to bed, little one. Maybe tomorrow." She ruffled the little girl's hair. "You coming up, Po?" She asked, turning her attention to the Dragon Warrior. He paused in his discussion with his fathers.
"I think I'll stay here tonight. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course." She set the little girl down. "Go play with cuddles. I'll see you in the morning." She urged the little girl along and then turned from the group to begin the long trek up the stairs.
A/N: ONE MORE CHAPTER. I'll post tonight (late; I'm going to see Beauty and the Beast). Love ya!