Hey people! Sorry that this is taking so long but Happy Valentine's Day. Here's a new chapter! lol

Chapter 3

The Tower

We made it to the palace about an hour after noon. Po, with the help of Viper and Monkey, told us about a few of their adventures after the liberation of Gongmen. Shifu would chuckle and add an interjection every once and a while. After a while it felt like I was back training my feathers off at the Palace.

The best part was the fact that Shen would laugh and tell his own joke every now and again. Monkey was a little uptight at first, offering only a weak chuckle, and I didn't blame him. But then Shen, my wonderful Shen, broke the ice in the best possible way.

"I remember watching your technique that day. It was quite impressive." He had complimented. Monkey had just paused and stared at the peacock, confused.

"Come now Monkey, what do you say?" Shifu had nodded and waved his staff in our direction. Viper, Po, and I had giggled.

"Umm…Thank you." The simian had stuttered. After that it was like we were all good friends, laughing, teasing, and forgetting the past. We made it to the palace and were greeted by the Soothsayer, who had taken up residence in the gardens, where she preferred to be.

"What did you get yourselves into this time?" The old goat asked as we gimped down the path to her hut.

"Wolves were stealing from my plantation. There was a little scuffle, and I got hit across my ribs. I think they're bruised pretty bad." I explained. "Shen on the other wing won't let me look at his side." I shot him a playful glare.

"It's more important that you get patched up." Shen's voice was strained and his eyes were glazed over. I just knew he was in a lot of pain.

"The best I can do for the ribs, is suggest a hot bath and some mint tea. But the wound I'll need to examine." She motioned to a soft patch of grass nearer to the hut.

"Lien there's no need to worry, I'll be fine." Shen tried to make my worries fade, but they wouldn't until he was back in my wings and in our room.

"You know I can't help but worry." I replied moving to sit by him. "Will you need help Soothsayer?"

"No. All I have to do is clean it out and pack it up. You go do as I said and sleep. You'll want to be your best for tonight." She shooed me away.

"I'll be fine. Go relax." My brave fiancé squeezed my wing and smiled.

"You'd better be." I teased with a wink and turned back to the marbled Great Hall where my friends waited. Po, Shifu, Viper, and Monkey waited there admiring the artistry. "You could have come out with us. The gardens are in full bloom and quite gorgeous this time of year."

"Yeah, but we didn't quite make it past the Hall." Po replied. "This place is even better than the last one! What I saw crumbling beneath me anyway…"

"It seems bigger too." Monkey commented.

"We did enhance it a bit." I smiled and tried my wings. The movement burned a bit but I soared across the floor. My landing was a little less than graceful as I slid across the floor. Viper slithered over and helped me keep my balance.

"Be careful." Po warned.

"I'll have to loosen up the muscles somehow." I countered. "Come on. I have to show you guys your floor."

"You made us a floor?" Viper gasped. I nodded and flapped my wings to lead them up five flights of stairs.

"It's half a floor really, but it's still pretty awesome." Po laughed at the use of his favorite word. "It's also 100% secret. Only Shen and I know about it." We reached the fifth floor and came to a huge mural of the Jade Palace.

"This is beautiful! Did you paint this?" Shifu asked, for once, in awe.

"Shen and I did. This entire floor we did by ourselves."

"You always were so good with a paintbrush." Po complimented.

"Thank you." I blushed proudly.

"Wait a second; is that me?" Monkey pointed to the almond tree grove. Painted into the white and pink blossoms, amber brown trunks, and deep green leaves one could see the form of Monkey in his stance.

"Yeah. You're all in it, in your favorite spots." Tigress was in the Iron-wood trees, Crane in the sky and clouds, Po in the dorm kitchen. Viper was by the lotus pond with her ribbons, and Shifu was in his cave perched in his staff. I was ever so cleverly hidden within the stony recesses of the ledge under the Peach Tree of Wisdom with Shen's seal barely visible over my heart. Lastly Master Ooguay was easily seen within the delicate petals of the peach tree.

"Incredible!" My friends breathed.

"This isn't even the best part." I smiled and faced the wall. The only way to get to the other half of the room was to hit the tile hidden under the door to the Palace about seven feet off the ground (AN: Pefowl are only about 3-4 feet tall, so it's a little ways off the ground for little ol' Lien ;)). I jumped up, spun around and kicked the perfect spot. I landed daintily and the wall split in half allowing all five of us to walk in side by side.

"This is only half a floor?" Po gasped dancing around and admiring the indoor garden. Huge windows surrounded the whole room and sunlight poured in. Soft and incredibly fluffy cushions were scattered throughout the sunroom for relaxation purposes. Seven strong and highly decorated doors arched around us; one for each of my friends.

"Go on! Check it out!" I spread my wings and watched excitedly as the Kung Fu masters scattered to find their surprises.

"This is AWESOME!" Monkey and Po sighed flopping onto their beds.

"I have to make one of these back in the Valley!" Viper hissed curling up in her soft nest.

"Everything is impeccable! And this artistry; it is truly a wonder!" Shifu complimented.

"Thank you! All of the metal-work was done by Shen's talon, and the painting and lanterns was my handiwork." I beamed and settled on one of the cushions.

"I can't believe you did all of this for us!" Monkey came to sit in a ray of sunshine while munching on an almond cookie.

"Are you kidding? You guys have done so much for us that this is the least Shen and I could think to do for you." It was true. For the first year, after Lord Shen's defeat, they had stuck around to help us get started on the Great Reconstruction, as we had deemed it. They had been a critical part in getting the people on board with our plans. They were the best motivators we could have asked for; who better to have behind you than the whole gang from the Jade Palace?

"Thank you for everything." Po smiled from his, slightly wider, doorway.

"Not a problem." I grinned. "I'll leave you guys to explore. See you later!" With that I walked out on the balcony and looked out across the gardens. Then I sighed and looked up; two tiers higher was Shen and I's room. Carefully I spread my wings and caught a warm air current and glided up to our marbled balcony.

A little tub was filled with hot water and I dragged a few blinds around it and jumped in. The warmth of the water seeped into the soreness of my muscles and I sighed contentedly. After soaking for a few more minutes I climbed out, dried off, and slipped back into my robe.

Just then Shen ascended through the west balcony. He slipped a bit on the landing and I glided over to help steady him. "Easy there warrior. I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself again." I pecked his cheak.

"Ha. I should be fine now. The Soothsayer said she would wake us up and stitch it closed." We walked wing in wing to our soft, comfy nest.

"I'm glad that we're both going to survive to get married." Shen settled down and I cuddled up next to him. I snuggled my head under his chin and he pulled me closer to his un-wounded side. "I love you."

"I love you!" Shen cooed and fluttered kisses over my face and neck.

"Now now. No need to get frisky. We're not married…yet." I kissed him sweetly.

"Fine." My prince sighed playfully. I smiled then laid my head on his chest and fell into a light sleep to the sound of his heartbeat.