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Dong!

Su opened her eyes to the sound of the morning bell.

Outside her bedroom door, she heard a rush of wind and the soft thud of opening and shutting doors as the grown ups got out of bed far quicker than she did.

"Good morning master!" She heard them say simultaneously. There was a moment's pause, and then Su heard Master Shifu yell.

"Po! Oh for crying out loud…"

She opened her mouth to yawn then lifted off the covers.

It was a bright sunny day. She could tell from the light seeping through the window and reflecting off the surface of her lucky coin.

As Su got out of bed, she heard a slam as Shifu slammed open the door to Po's room.

"Po! Wake up!"

"Five more minutes…" Po mumbled.

"I will give you five minutes of sparring with me if you do not get out of bed this instant!"

There was a crash as Po practically leapt out of bed.

"Good morning, Master!"

"That's better. Now all of you have your morning meal while I check if the children are awake yet."

Su smoothed down her clothing and headed over to the door. She opened it just as Shifu appeared just outside the doorframe.

"Excellent." Shifu spoke. "Even at less than a third of the Dragon Warrior's age, you have a good sense of punctuality."

"Thank you, Master Shifu." Su smiled slightly.

"I will go check on Pong, and then I want both of you to have breakfast with Po and the Five and then join the other children in the courtyard for tai chi training."

"Okay." Su saluted him.

"Your paws go the other way, Su."

"Okay." Su quickly corrected herself.

"That's better. Now off you go."

Su saluted him again before heading towards the kitchen. She heard the tapping of hooves as Pong rushed to join her.

By the time they'd entered the kitchen, the soup pot Po was stirring in was already steaming. The Furious Five were already sitting around the table.

"Hey, kids." Viper was the first to greet them with a kind smile. "We've saved two seats for you." Su and Pong saw the two empty seats and sat down.

"Is everyone here?" Po asked. "Alright then, I hope your stomachs are empty…"

With the graceful movements of an experienced waiter, Po set down all eight bowls on the table then with a flick of his wrist sent a generous amount of noodle soup flying into each one.

"Not a single spillage." Tigress peered at her bowl as the others began to eat. "You're improving."

"Of course it's all down to my awesome bodacity!" Po grinned like a little kid. The two little kids in the room raised their eyebrows.

"Yeah, and the fact that you're the only one of us who has mastered inner peace so far has nothing to do with it." Tigress smirked.

Po pouted.

"Um… Master Po…" Su hesitated. "Do you think it would be okay for me to write a letter?"

"Sure." Po said. "Why?"

"I want to tell my mommy and daddy about me meeting the emperor."

"Of course you can, honey. What kid wouldn't to tell their parents about that?" Viper grinned. "Tonight before the feast, I'll ask Zeng if he can deliver the letter."

"Thank you!" Su smiled back.

"What does bodacity mean?" Pong asked. Po turned his head to look at the piglet student.

"Oh, it's…"

"Shut up and eat." Monkey mumbled through a full mouth. "Before your noodles get cold."

"Oh, right!" Po quickly grabbed the eighth bowl, his own, and gulped it down. When he set the empty bowl back on the tabletop, he looked like he had sucked a lemon.

"Ugh…" He stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Too late."

"Have you all finished eating?" Shifu entered the kitchen at that very moment.

"Almost, Master, we've-" Crane suddenly noticed the red panda's expression. "Master, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Shifu said shortly. "Before you all leave to begin your respective tasks, Princess Haoxin wishes to give you her gifts now."

"Let me through, Master Sour-food, let me through!" Princess Haoxin de Nushi burst past Shifu and stood before the six warriors and two children. Behind her, three palace geese entered with several small sized boxes.

"I have been waiting all morning for this." Haoxin said sweetly, gazing upon the students. "If you will all sit quietly, I will begin."

"What have you got for us, your highness?" Po asked, his eyes shining with the prospect of receiving a present. Haoxin chuckled at his excitement.

"Since you seem the most eager, you can go first." Haoxin turned round and grabbed the largest box from the first goose. "Here you go."

Po took the box, nodded to her in thanks, and had to resist the urge to tear at it as he opened the box. He pulled out the most awesome silk shirt he had ever seen. It was a pure white with black sleeves embroidered in gold. Stitched on the chest was a shimmering golden dragon.

"Woah…" He gaped in awe. "Awesome! Thank you, your highness, I love it!"

"I knew you would." Haoxin smiled. "Mantis, you are next!"

The bug hopped forward as the elderly goose grabbed the smallest box from the third goose. He cautiously removed the lid and raised his eyebrows as he pulled out a strange brown box shaped object even smaller than himself.

"Pardon me, your highness…" He said. "But I'm not entirely sure what this is."

"It is a little travel pack!" Haoxin beamed. "I made it myself!"

"You what?"

"Haoxin likes to tailor as a hobby." Viper said. "My father told me."

"Oh yes, I remember Great Master Viper." Haoxin said. "He saved my travelling carriage from macaw marauders once."

"Oh, er… thanks for the gift." Mantis said, and slipped the backpack over his back.

"My dear Viper, would you like to come forward?"

"Oh, okay." Viper slithered in front of the group. Haoxin was beaming as she handed the snake a long thin box. Viper undid the ribbon, opened the box, and pulled out what looked like the longest, thinnest sleeping bag they had ever seen.

"That is a winter coat of sorts, specially designed for your species." Haoxin said. "You will be needing it, considering where you are going."

"Huh?" Viper blinked.

"Oh dear, I have said too much!" Haoxin gasped. "Oh well, you will find out soon enough."

"Thank you for this coat, your highness." Viper said as she carefully but it back in the box. "I'm sure I will find this useful."

"Of course, darling. And if your avian friend would like to be next…"

Crane looked very nervous as he stepped forward. Haoxin gave him a perfect square-shaped box. He opened it to reveal a rice hat gilded in gold and silver, the rim covered in sharp steel.

"Holy…" He gingerly pulled it out. "This is some hat."

"The steel is not just for show." There was suddenly a sly glint in Haoxin's brown eye. "If you go outside and throw it like a Frisbee, you will see what I mean."

"Uhhh… okay. Thanks."

"Monkey, you are next." Haoxin gave him a box nearly as long as Viper's. "I do not know what is inside this one. On our way to the Valley of Peace, we passed through Gongmen City. A kung fu master residing there asked me to give this to you."

With a cocked eyebrow Monkey removed the lid, and peered inside the box.

His heart nearly stopped.

Inside the box was a slightly rusted, notched, but still deadly sharp dao sword. Lying by the hilt was a small scroll. Aware that his friends were watching him, Monkey quickly closed the lid.

"Uh, thank you for giving this to me." Monkey said. "Um… is it alright if I take a proper look at this in my room?"

"You may, Monkey. But be quick, you still have an ice dragon to sculpt." Shifu eyed him suspiciously, but stepped aside as Monkey left the kitchen.

In the meantime, Haoxin turned to Su and Pong.

"Hello, my darlings." She beamed at them. "It came to my attention that you are both hardcore Dragon Warrior fans."

"Not me." Su said. "No offense, Master Po."

"None taken."

"I noticed these in passing and I just had to get them for you!" Haoxin pulled out two plushy toys that had a striking resemblance to the red panda standing by the doorway. Su and Pong cried out in joy and hugged the soft dolls.

"Thank you, missus Haoxin!" Su giggled happily.

"Anytime, my lovelies." Haoxin patted both their heads. "Doesn't Sea-food look cute with that big fluffy tail of his?"

A vein ticked in Shifu's temple.

"What about a present for Master Shifu?" Su asked.

"Oh I gave him his earlier." Haoxin said. "A box of bath salts. Oh my, I almost forgot about dear Tigress! Come on, dear. Don't be shy!"

Tigress stepped forward as Haoxin gave her a small box wrapped in a bright red ribbon.

"This is extremely hard to come by." Haoxin said. "I think you will like this."
Tigress merely nodded as she undid the ribbon, lifted the lid and looked inside.

"Oh my god…"

She pulled out a silver chain necklace that looked like it was long enough to slip over her head. Dangling from said chain was a vivid dark green emerald the size of an egg and the shape of a heart. The light reflected off it sent flashes of green flying around the kitchen as her friends stared at it in pure amazement.

"Wh-what is…" Tigress whispered.

"They call it the Heart of China." Haoxin said. "The largest emerald in the country. It was originally given to Xian's great grandfather, by the king of a neighboring province. It was passed down through the generations until Xian's father had it cut into a heart shape and gave it to me as a birthday present. And now I give it to you."

"But…" Tigress carefully placed the precious gem back in the box. "I shouldn't…"

"It is alright. I already have the country's largest amethyst, largest diamond and largest sapphire. And Oogway's statue has the country's largest ruby. I think a person with a beautiful face and a beautiful soul such as yourself should have the most beautiful jewel of them all."

"Your highness… I…" Tigress found herself blushing. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it, my dear." Haoxin said. "Now I think I have kept you all here long enough. I believe you have a winter feast to prepare."

"Yes, we do." Shifu said. "All of you, put your dirty dishes away and get to work. Po, I believe the golden ladle contest will be ready for you by now."

"Okay, Master Shifu." Po zipped out the door in a flash.

"I will just get out of your way." Haoxin said. "Our family will be in the guest barracks, so call on us if you need anything."

"Yes, your highness." Shifu replied.

"Come on, boys!" Haoxin clapped her wings and the palace geese followed her out.

"We'll get Monkey and get going." Crane said, and he and Mantis also left.

"C'mon, Su, let's go." Pong jumped down from the chair, still clutching his Master Shifu plushy toy.

"Oka-oh!"

Rip!

"Su?!" Viper hissed in alarm and quickly slithered to the small panda cub, who was clutching her left shoulder.

"Su, are you alright?" Shifu and Tigress also surrounded her in concern.

"Are you hurt?" Tigress asked worriedly.

"No, I'm okay." Su said. "But I caught my sleeve and it's ripped." She removed her paw and they all saw that the sleeve was nearly completely torn off at the seam.

"Su, you can't train with your vest in that state." Viper said. "Your tai chi class will be outside, and you could catch your death of cold!"

"She's right." Tigress said. "Master Shifu, would it be alright for us to go down to the tailor before putting up the decorations instead of after? Then we can get her vest repaired."

"Alright." Shifu replied. "But this means that she will miss her class. Are you willing to work another hour and a half to help her catch up?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then off you go. But do not loiter."

"That stone looked really pretty, Master Tigress." Su said as they approached the tailor shop in the village below the Jade Palace. "What is it?"

"It's called an emerald." Viper said. "Do you not know what all the different gemstones are?"

"Nu-uh." Su shook her head. "We don't have any gemstones in the village."

"Well you already know that green is an emerald." Viper said. "Red is a ruby. Blue is a sapphire. Clear is a diamond. Orangey yellow is a topaz."

"What about that purple stone I saw Master Crane with a few days ago?" Su asked.

"Purple is an amethyst." Viper said. "Wait, did you say that Crane has a gemstone?"

To her surprise, Su's deep blue eyes suddenly widened, and she clapped her small paws over her mouth.

"Oh no! I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone!"

"Hey, it's okay Su." Tigress knelt down and put a paw on the child's shoulder. "We'll pretend you never said anything. Now let's get our fittings over and done with."
"You don't look happy, Master Tigress." Su looked up at her. "What's wrong?"
"She's just annoyed that she has to wear a dress for tonight." Viper chuckled.

"Let's just get this over with!" Tigress scowled as she entered the tailor shop first. Viper and Su looked at each other before going in after her.

"Good morning, Masters Viper and Tigress." The tailor, a middle aged pig with a dark topknot, stepped out from behind a paper screen to greet them. "It is an honor to have you in my shop. What can I do for you two today?"

"We both need more formal clothing for tonight." Viper said. "But first, Su here needs her vest repaired."

"Of course, ladies." The pig bowed to them. "Just wait over there, and I will get her vest fixed immediately."

Viper and Tigress sat down on a pair of stools as Su showed the tailor the tear in her sleeve.

"Hmmm…" The tailor peered intensely at the rip. "This is a very large tear, but won't take long to fix. If you will kindly step behind this screen and remove the vest, I will have it stitched back up in a few minutes."

Su did as she was told and disappeared behind the screen. There was a slight rustle, and then a small black arm poked out clutching the vest. The tailor took the vest, took out a needle and thread from a nearby drawer, and set to work.

There was silence in the shop for a few minutes as Tigress and Viper sat without making conversation, Su waited patiently behind the screen, and the tailor stuck the needle in and out… in and out…

Click!

The door suddenly opened, and a small group of people entered the room: Haoxin in front, her daughter Zu Chunhua and grandson Zan, Princess Mei Li, and at the very back was a disgruntled Master Shifu.

"Oh, you are here too!" Haoxin exclaimed happily upon seeing the two women. "I take it you are here for fitting too!"

"Oh yes." Viper said. "We're just waiting until Su's vest is repaired. She tore it in the kitchen."

"What are you all doing here?" Tigress asked.

"There is a huge queue of men waiting for the palace tailor." Haoxin said. "When we heard that there was a tailor down in the village, we thought… 'why not'?"

"And I'm here to watch over them." Shifu said.

"There, all done!" The tailor, looking mildly surprised at having so many customers in her shop, held up Su's newly repaired vest. "Hang on a moment, dear…"

She went behind the screen, and a moment later emerged with Su once again fully dressed.

"Thank you." Su said quietly.

"I'm just doing my job, dear." The tailor smiled at her, then turned to the seven people in front of her. "Now, who's next?"

"Why don't we cut your work in half?" Haoxin asked. "I tailor myself in my spare time, and besides I would much rather have something to do instead of waiting in the corner."

"O-of course, ma'am." The tailor replied.

"Tigress, come with me into the next room, and we will get your dress made." Before Tigress could react, Haoxin put a wing on the feline's lower back and steered her into the second room where the tailor kept her dress-making materials. They were joined a moment later by the tailor, Viper, and Shifu.

"Where is the measuring tape?" Haoxin asked.

"In the third drawer down." The tailor replied as she pulled out another measuring tape from her pocket and began measuring Viper's body.

It wasn't until the measurements were finished and the fabric was pulled out that the four women in the room began making conversation. While Viper and the tailor launched into a conversation concerning the decorations for the winter festival, Haoxin proceeded to tell Tigress all about 'Master Hi-ho's' embarrassing accident when they first met forty five years ago, involving a snapped belt and falling pants. Shifu leant against the wall and looked on in silence, deeply regretting his decision to follow them into the village.

Putting together an outfit for Viper's thin body took a mere ten minutes, and Zu Chunhua was next to be measured. Another twenty minutes after that, Tigress's dress was fully finished.

"Oh my, you look utterly fabulous!" Haoxin clapped her wings together in joy.

"Er, your highness…" Shifu spoke up, his tone managing to disguise the fact that he too was impressed by how she looked. "You've done a wonderful job, but I don't think that color scheme is suitable for the winter-"

"Oh nonsense, Master Jitsu." Haoxin said. Shifu gritted his teeth. "You look marvelous, Tigress! But you had better find something to put over that so it doesn't get dirty before tonight!"

"I will." Tigress replied. "Thank you, your highness."

"Do not mention it, my dear. There's a black kimono over there. You can put that on over the dress." Tigress nodded and went over to the far corner the room. "Alright, Master Sai So. You are next!"

Shifu's ears twitched.

"What?" He asked.

"Come over here and I'll get you measured."

"N-no, your highness. I'm fine!"

"Nonsense. You have not got your outfit yet, and it could be hours before the palace tailor is ready for you. Come over here and I will get you sorted in a jiffy!"

Shifu's shoulders slumped as he walked forward.

The measurements were done quickly and without any trouble, and soon a silken half-finished robe was wrapped around the red panda, with Haoxin busying herself with stitching the back.

"Hold still, Grandmaster." Haoxin said as she pulled out the needle. "I am almost done…"

On the other side of the room, Zu Chunhua admired her new outfit in the mirror then called for Zan. The excited gosling burst into the room and the door collided with the small table. A decorative jar toppled right over and- SMASH!

Haoxin whirled round.

"What was tha-"

"YEOWCH!"

Shifu's roar of pain echoed around the room.

Tigress nearly jumped out of her skin.

She spun round and her eyes widened at the sight of the red panda dancing around on the floor clutching his backside.

"Good gracious!" Haoxin exclaimed. "What is the matter?"

"You've stuck a needle in my backside!" Shifu hollered, his fingers feeling around for the tiny sharp object.

"Oh dear, how on earth did you manage to do that?"

"You-"

"Now, now…" Haoxin put a wing on Shifu's lips, quieting him. "Stay still and I will get it out."

"No, keep away from me!"

Haoxin ignored him, and bent over to get a good look at Shifu's buttocks. The red panda stiffened as she put her wings on his backside, feeling around for the needle.

"Your highness, don't…"

"Hmmm… I cannot see it…" she muttered. "Whereabouts does it hurt?"

"Everywhere!"

"I think it has gone beneath the fabric. Oh dear, you know what that means…"

Shifu went pale.

"Oh no… no…"

Haoxin grabbed a nearby stool and sat down.

"Your highness, no!"

Haoxin grabbed Shifu's arm, and a second later he was draped over her lap, his backside right beneath her chest.

Tigress, Zu Chunhua and the tailor looked on with open mouths.

"Grandmamma, are you going to spank him?" Zan asked with his head tilted in curiosity.

"Of course not, my boy." Haoxin replied. "But that needle has to come out."

Shifu's cheeks turned the color of red chili peppers as Haoxin untied his belt and pulled his brown pants down to his knees.

"Holy…" Zu Chunhua quickly covered her son's eyes.

"My, my…" Haoxin chuckled. "My husband used to have a shapely bottom like that."

Shifu covered his face with his hands in utter mortification.

"Ah, here it is!" Haoxin exclaimed. Shifu winced as she closed her feathered fingertips around the tip of the needle, and pulled it out. "There, that was not so bad now, was it?"

"Noooooo…" Shifu's sarcastic response turned halfway into a snarl.

"Ma'am…" Haoxin turned her head to address the tailor. "Could you bring me the first aid kit? Dear Master Pint-suit has a nasty boo-boo on his left cheek."

"Alright." The tailor was struggling to suppress her laughter as she left the room.

"Can I please put my pants back on now?" Shifu almost begged her.

"Once we have patched up this awful wound in your bottom." Haoxin said.

The door opened again, but instead of the tailor, Viper, Crane, Monkey, Mantis and Po entered the room.

"Master, are you alright?" Crane asked worriedly. "We could hear you screaming all the way from the-"

They all fell silent at the sight of the half-naked red panda draped over the elderly goose's legs.

Brilliant… the horrified Shifu thought as he avoided their stunned gazes. Bloody brilliant. Now I have a new worst day of my life.