- - - - September 30th (Shifu's Birthday)

Po awoke early in the morning, while the sky was still dark, filled with the clouds of the night sky. A soft wind buffeted Po's fur as he walked up towards the Peach Tree and glanced backwards at the Jade Palace. Today was the day, the day they had planned for at most two days. It was a big deal for Shifu, since it was his 80th Birthday, and 75 years being a member of the Shaolin.

Po thought on that number.

Seventy-five years- long years- Master Shifu's lived in the Jade Palace.

Po glanced at the village below.

I've only been here for around two years, yet, I feel at home.

Po sighed. But Master Shifu's been here for pretty much his entire life.

Memories of stories he's heard started entering his mind as Shifu's past life was pondered on in the student's head.

All the pain, all the trials, but all the respect he's earned over the years hopefully has outweighed it all.

Po glanced back at the Jade Palace, staring at its magnificence but its rather deep history.

"Oh, Master," Po whispered into thin air, possibly knowing that Shifu couldn't hear him. "It really is your home, isn't it?"

Shifu sighed, overlooking the Jade Palace grounds from his position on his balcony. Shifu blinked, glancing downwards at all these many years he had spent in this palace, whether it was as a student, or a master, he has seen it twice for he has been standing here his whole life.

Well, pretty much, anyways.

Shifu's not one to want to voluntarily go back on his past for most of the time, and especially he doesn't want to get caught up on everything that's happened on his 80th birthday. He's old enough already, and he knows it.

It's been a long road, but Shifu's perseverance and determination make him a fierce force in the Shaolin, and not just from the past, but also in the present.

Shifu sighed, remembering his time of childhood and his time as a student.

He also remembered his adoptive son and his master, who had so kindly watched him in every way possible.

Now, thinking back to Shifu's present, he thinks of his loyal friends in the village, like Mei Lang, and Ping Chang. Even Zeng and Lian, in the Jade Palace.

He thinks of his current students who he hopes he can live long enough to watch them become masters of their own status and make a reputation for themselves in the Shaolin.

Shifu gently glanced away from the scenery, but looked back with a gentle sigh.

It truly has been a struggle and an honor at the same time.

Shifu blinked, honored that he had gotten the chance to become a grandmaster, a teacher, a leader, a father, and many other things that his past had once denied him.

Turns out, Shifu's not the one to back down from a fight, a fight that rages inside his mind every day, fairly enough.

Every day he's crushed with the memories, even just walking through the training hall where he used to train brings back times of the past.

But, of course, Shifu's mind is stronger than that and knows that times have passed.

He has become a different individual and master all together.

A stronger warrior.

A wiser master.

A patient teacher.

A noble leader.

And most of all,

He himself has changed into everything he was meant to be.

At last….

He has earned his reputation.

…this is the beginning of another era.

*gong*

"Good morning, Master."

"Good morning."
There was silence for a time, as if no one really knew what to say in this drastic time of silence. Shifu looked as if he was about to continue on speaking, but his students interrupted him with another bow to greet the occasion.

"Happy Birthday, Master!"

Shifu flicked an ear in surprise, glad they didn't reference his age by saying, "Happy 80th Birthday, Master."
Shifu inwardly laughed at the thought.

"Thank you."
Shifu thought to himself for a moment, slightly amused and a bit surprised as well as honored that his student's birthday was so close to his. (which would be Monkey's birthday, which is on October 2nd, isn't that cute?)

I suppose my master and I chose the right students. Shifu thought to himself with an inwardly laugh. I suppose he's just begging for that day to come, isn't he?
Shifu sighed, despite his thoughts, and dipped his head.

"So…" Po trailed off, catching his friend's gazes as Shifu glanced away from them. "Do you have any plans or are you just…..doing stuff?"
Shifu blinked. He hadn't done something for his birthday in years. It's not like many did any for him, anyways, and he hadn't the heart to really do something for himself. Anytime the students had tried, something had always come up or Shifu was off somewhere to some meeting or just randomly doing work (which he usually did), and this day was rare that Shifu had nowhere to really go.

"No, nothing." Shifu flicked his ear. "Just, the same as usual."
Monkey blinked, knowing full well that they have been trying for a few years but nothing had really come out of it.

Mantis thought that was rather boring, but he just pleaded that everything would go well and that THIS time Shifu would at least get to do something better on his birthday than working or something like that.

Mantis knew Shifu liked teaching, but he also knew that sometimes everyone needs a break (and when he means everyone he means *everyone*) Even some need a break from learning too much.

Mantis inwardly laughed. How dumb do I sound right now?
Shifu stood in front of his students as they stood straight upright from their bow, their hands behind their back and their forms straight, as a formal student should.

Shifu blinked, pleased. Even though it was his birthday doesn't mean that Shifu would cut out on his student's training.

Shifu gently smiled as he delivered, "Let's begin the class."

Monkey raced down the stairs into the training hall's courtyard where Mei Lang, Ping Chang, Piao, Mr. Ping, Uncle Yang, Zeng, Lian, and his other fellow students were already there, waiting for Monkey so they could plan to bring Shifu there.

Luckily, just in time, Tigress and Monkey had finished their gifts for Shifu, and Monkey had just placed his next to Po's as he bounded into the courtyard.

Just in time.

Although it was late evening when the students should be training, Zeng, at least, said that he would vouch for them if Shifu ever got super mad at them for not training. Monkey just smiled and said "thanks."

Zeng had offered to bring Shifu to the courtyard, pleading that he hasn't found out already and that they actually COULD pull off a surprise from the master of surprise himself.

The friends sat down at the long table as the students stood, waiting to give the surprise to the beloved master, hoping that Zeng would actually be able to pull this off.

Po shot Tigress a relieved glance.

"We might actually do it this year." Tigress whispered. "Thank you."