I honestly have never been in so much pain in my life. So! While I am sitting in my bed in agony, why not write?

I have decided (upon request) to include Mantis and Viper in every chapter to let their maternal instincts shine through as the feeling that something bad has happened to Xue increases. Just so y'all can have a feel on how attached they really are to the little albino dyslexic.

~Kitty~

Viper had always had an active imagination. It had made her an enjoyable playmate in her younger years, since her brilliant mind could come up with a new game on-the-spot. It had helped in solving many mysteries by only 'what-ifs?'. But there was also one major, bummer of a downside that always nagged in the back of her mind:

'What is happening back at the Palace with my little Xue?'

She was beginning to regret her decision to leave Po in charge of her only daughter. She knew Tigress and Shifu were also there, but it did only take one to ruin something for everyone. Right?

Slowing her speed, she fell behind as the others continued. After three days of travel, they had finally reached the gates of the Imperial City. Heavily guarded gates. After many recent attacks, they had been forced to upgrade the security of the city and the Imperial Palace, forcing many soldiers to work overtime to protect the citizens and the beloved emperor of China. The gates, just in sight, had five guards around it.

Mantis paused, sensing his wife was no longer beside him. He saw her a ways back, staring at the ground with a worried expression on her face. Crane and Monkey looked between the two of them.

"We'll catch up," Mantis said, not waiting for a response. They nodded anyway, smiling as they contiued down the path.

When Mantis reached her, Viper was staring off into the distance. It was not coinsidence that the Jade Palace was in the same direction she was looking. He softly touched her cheek. She calmly turned her attention to him, but he saw the concern in her eyes from all of the practice he had built up. "I worry for her too, you know."

Viper sighed. "I know Po is more responsible than we think, especially with Tigress and Shifu there, but..."

Mantis frowned. "You feel it too, huh?"

"If you're talking about the feeling that Xue is in a dire state, then yes," she responded, eyes misty. "She could have wandered off, or maybe she could be sick, or maybe bandits have attacked, or-"

"Viper, honey," Mantis gently scolded, "you can't think like that. Whatever Xue throws their way, Master, Tigress, and Po can handle it. We're probably just being worry-warts."

Viper frowned. She had more than a gut instinct telling her. It was like a whisper in her heart, gentle yet lound and clear.

'She's hurt,' it would hiss, cruel and soft. 'She is dying.'

Deciding to listen to Mantis for once (she winced and immediately knew she would regret it), she sighed and nodded. "Maybe you're right..."

"Maybe? I am right, babe," Mantis grinned as he pecked her lips. "Now come on, it's time to track down a bunch of smelly bandits!"

~Kitty~

Xue was getting worse. As the day continued, she couldn't stop shivering. It stopped only for a moment, but soon continued when it looked like it was gone. Her fever had increased to the point that her face had a constant flush to it. Her cough had also gotten more serious; she was coughing up mucus tinged with blood. Her heart was beating very quickly and was steadily getting quicker. She was complaining of constant chest pains, and she was having trouble breathing.

Tigress finally drew the line when Xue started throwing up.

"Baba!" she shouted in panic, holding the weak head of the snake. Xue was blearily blinking her eyes, forcing herself to stay awake. She had a feeling that it was safer when she was in the land of living, where Auntie Tigress could protect her.

Master Shifu and Po were in the room faster then she could blink. Once he realized the situation, Shifu jumped into action. Tigress, take Xue down to the hospital! This is obviously not just a simple cold. Po, I want you to accompany them."

"Father, what about you?" Tigress hesitated.

Shifu sighed. "I shall write a letter to Viper and Mantis. They deserve to know this." His eyes narrowed. "You're wasting time! Move!"

Tigress's ears pinned back as she took off running, gently craddling the sickly snake in her arms. Po followed behind her as they ran down to town. Tigress's mind began to panic as the possibilities raced through her mind.

'What is happening? I thought it was just a cold! Could this be a new kind of disease? What if the doctors can't help her? Not only will I loose my niece, but Mantis and Viper would never forgive me. I would never forgive myself...'

Increasing her speed, the crowd noticed the panicking warriors and cleared out of their way. Finally reaching the hospital, which wasn't too far from the Jade Palace, Tigress burst through the doors. "Help! Help, my niece needs help!"

A rush of doctors came at her, rushing her with questions. "What's the situation?"

"I-I don't know." Tigress barely registered Po behind her, panting slightly. "She's been sick for a day or two now, but now she's gotten so much worse! She's barely breathing!"

A pig took Xue from her paws and rushed her into another room, loaded sentences filled with medical terms Tigress didn't know pouring out of his mouth. She snarled, not wanting to be separated from Xue in her weakened state for more than a second. Before she had a chance to plow the door down, though, there was a panda standing in her way.

"I know what you're thinking, Tigress, but these people know what they're doing," he said, doing his best to calm the frazzled tiger. "You've got to let them do their jobs and not get in the way."

Tigress took many deep, calming breaths before opening her eyes. Po was shocked that they had tears in them. He had known her for a while (a public figure more than a friend, but still), and he had never seen her cry. Not once. She had tears in her eyes at the harbor after being blown away by Shen's cannon, but she hadn't let them fall.

She suddenly latched onto Po, crying openly on his shoulder. He stiffened for a moment, but hesitantly put his arms around her. Almost immediately, his mind word automatically as he rubbed soothing circles in her back, whispering soothing words in her ear. The doctors politely looked away and left the room, leaving the two to their business.

"What if they can't help, Po?" she asked in a fragile whisper. "What if there is no way to help her...? How would I tell Mantis and Viper...?"

"Oh Tigress," Po whispered, pulling back slightly to look into her face. "Don't think like that. These guys are good at their job."

"But what if it's out of their control?" Tigress asked, her emotions showing shamelessly on her face- for perhaps the first time in her life.

"All we can do is wait," he replied, pulling her back in for another hug. "Wait and pray."

~Kitty~

A crumpled up piece of paper landed by a full waste can, joining the many others there. Shifu sighed, placing his head in his paws, inky from frustrated writing and dragging his paws along the characters. How exactly do you tell the parents of a six-year-old that she was deathly ill? It made it even more difficult since the two were on a mission and expected their daughter to be perfectly fine in the paws of trusted friends. And they go and get her hospitalized? What kind of "gong gong" was he?

He lifted his eyes to look at- yet another- blank sheet of paper. Picking up a quill, he dipped it in what little ink he had left and started writing.

"Dear Mantis and Viper,

Since Tigress and Po are elsewhere at the moment, I have the displeasure of informing you of the tragic news that has happened today. Around a day after you left, Xue had become ill with a slight cold. At least, that's what we all suspected. But today, she had began to show even more symptoms. Her breathing became very faint-"

He took a deep, ragged breath before mustering up the strength to contninue.

"- so Tigress and Po rushed her to the hospital. That was around an hour ago, and we still haven't heard from the doctors at all. Please, there is no need to worry. Everything should turn out okay. I wouldn't hold it against you if you abandon your mission, but please, if you do, instruct Monkey and Crane to stay there should it not be completed. She is in good paws. We are praying for her to every god out there. Again, please do not be too worried. We have tried our best. We hope to see you soon.

- Master Shifu, Tigress, and Po

And Xue"

Deciding to find Zeng before he changed his mind and throw another letter away, Shifu ran out of his room and promptly almost ran into the exact bird he was trying to find.

"Master Shifu?" Zeng asked, looking at his head weirdly.

Shifu tilted his head. "What is it?"

"You have ink all over you..."

Shifu sighed. "I know... Would you deliver this letter to Masters Mantis and Viper? They should be either between here and the Imperial City or in it. It is of the upmost importance that it gets to them as soon as possible."

Zeng bowed. "Yes, Master Shifu." He grabbed the letter and took off high speed towards the Imperial City. On his way to the hospital for an update, Shifu grabbed a rag from the kitchen and hurridly wiped the grime from his fur. He quickly tore up the stairs on his way to the hospital. A crowd had gathered around it, word spreading quickly about the poor little snake. After fighting his way through the crowd, he found himself in the waiting room, the only occupants Po and Tigress. She was curled up against Po on a bench while he pet her head affectionately. She was not crying, but Shifu could tell she had been from the tear trails and redder-than-usual eyes. Her paws clutched a stuffed bunny, a toy of Xue's Shifu had brought when he had visited last. He had only went back up to the Palace to write that letter.

"Have you heard anything?" Shifu asked Po. Tigress had been unresponsive, and would probably remain that way until she knew for certain Xue would be alright.

Po shook his head, gazing worriedly at the tiger laying in his lap. "No, not yet."

At that exact moment, the same pig that took Xue came through the doors, looking exhausted. Tigress immediately lept at him. Shifu and Po followed behind her, all of them anxious.

"Is Xue okay?" Tigress asked, not caring that she was probably scaring the poor pig.

The pig shrunk slightly, but remained- for the most part- calm. "I'm not going to lie to you; Xue is in bad condition."

Tigress shut her eyes, going to Po and initiating another hug. Shifu took over. "Tell us everything."

"She has a bad case of pneumonia; the worst I've ever seen, in fact. The fact that she is so young and her immune system is so weak worries me. We'll have to keep her in the hospital. It was touch-and-go for a while there, but she's now remotely stable." He looked sad. "It usually takes a regular patient around a week or two to recover, but for her, it will take a month; two at the most."

"But will she make it?" Po asked from petting Tigress comfortingly.

"I... I cannot say for certain, Dragon Warrior," the pig answered sadly. "But I assure you, we will try our very hardest to get your niece up and going in no time!"

They were silent. Suddenly, Tigress raised her head. "You said she was stable?"

"Yes, she is currently conscious. Would you like to see her?"

"Please," Tigress whispered. Only the trained ears of her father picked up when her voice broke.

"Only one is allowed in at a time..."

"You go first," Po grinned, though it was weaker than his usual ones. "Me and Shifu don't mind."

Tigress bit her lip and nodded. She knew it would be hard to see her little niece on the mat, looking weak and helpless. She took a deep breath and looked at the doctor. "Take me to her..."

~Kitty~

Who knew I could be so evil? I just hospitalized the cutest OC ever! :'( Look out for the next chapter! Mantis and Viper get the letter, Tigress visits Xue, and another Tigress/Shifu daughter/father fluff fest! I am SO much better at writing emotions then a fighting scene :)

~Kitty~