Episode 2: Brothers for Life ( 6 - 11 )


Chapter VII

In the Evening

I. (VIII) Wood and Fire

Nightfall of dark ocean prevailed in the sky — the Prosper Valley enlightened candles in many cultural houses and apartments. Most of the villagers on a prosperous encouraged themselves to take a walk at night, spend time with their families and friends at home, or go saunter. The people comforted their preference for this valley; their home was where their hearts were.

The Nine had been training long enough at Shui Palace's courtyard throughout the day. Most had heard of Emperor Huangdi's arrival at Jade Palace earlier. The Nine determined the Emperor's presence, uncertain when would the water buffalo come in visit soon. Eight of the Nine discussed in a dining room, guzzling their dumplings, white rice with soy flavor, and drinking teas. Across the courtyard outside, Lao joined Ming near the stream as the peacock desired to concentrate on the vision that still disturbed him. Instead of worrying, Ming and Lao inhaled their senses in meditation, thriving peaceful songs of soft ripples.

In a gray robe with blue linings on the neck and edge of sleeves, the Nine's Leader swallowed the soy rice, guzzling his wooden mug of mint tea that freshened his throat. "So far, no troubles have yet to come," the tiger met most of the Nine's eyes around the circular dining table. "And we deserve more training at my grandmother's courtyard."

In a long, navy kimono, the yak pirate sipped the rice with his spoon beside the Ox and Crocodile in front of Xing. "You fought well during sword training today, Xing," the bull pirate grasped his large mug before drinking. "Shiver me timbers, your brother Lao practiced so hard. He attacked many precision hits with his daggers. Savvy?"

"And you did well on our Chi Sao sparring, Shou," Xing delighted Shou to the bull's eyes.

Chi Sao was a challenging engagement using arms to attach and form a circle as one must move to the opposite as the other must control movement simultaneously. "Your punches were quite rough. I've sensed your tense arms, and even you are getting used to gentle," Xing described. "You have hoofs with three fingers each, and your blocks are good. I recommend doing five forms and practicing a large freestanding dummy to enhance Chi Sao blocks."

"Agreed," Shou concurred while nodding to the leader, sipping a hot tea he swallowed hot in his throat. The bull made a deep sigh.

"This day appears to be longer than I expected to," Niu considered while eating his rice. He glanced at a gorilla beside him. "Bao, what have you been doing with Fǎnshè after the practice?"

"Bao and I were watching Lao's mother today," Cobra said. One student took turns each week to aid Lao's mother at home above a hillside woods similar to Jade Palace. "Lady Xia adored my gratitude when I continued listening to her conversation, which was thrilling from her short tale. She saw a gorilla who looked like Bao since her earliest days when she apprised me before leaving. She called him a crazy grandpa, and we slept with her like we were in heaven."

The gorilla clasped his hands. "Bao, Xia. Bao, pillow. Bao, tubby. Bao..." The gorilla billowed his cheeks, turning cherry. "Date. HA!" The gorilla burst his laughing breath across the dining room. The eight of Nine perceived a new witticism; a few giggled and almost chuckled as all grabbed their plates. Bao flattened his giant palm to the table, wobbling the sculptures, dishes, and cups like the Earth rumbled.

"Lao's gonna kill you if he finds out, Bao. By the Gods!" Xing deadened his guffaw, deliberating as he returned his rice plate. "At least my brother cannot handle your humorous jokes after all if he is in here."

"Aye," Shou accepted, guzzling rice on his large plate using chopsticks.

"As soon as we can make plans when Emperor Huangdi arrives soon," the Crocodile pondered next to Cobra and Gorilla, then asked Xing, "Who will come with him, and what is our demonstration to surprise him?"

"His group of followers maybe, Zhao," the tiger examined carefully. "If that's the case, if Emperor travels along to them, then each of us must introduce ourselves. As I recall our demonstration method, we'll go forth to each of us about lowest to the highest rank."

"And now I must be first, right?" Shou asked the leader.

"Aye," Xing nodded. "I wonder if the Emperor will see you being a pirate and your historical records along, and don't you worry, Shou. Nana will convince the Emperor that you have lived here for six years and have been a legitimate student. Savvy?"

"Savvy."

"Have you two been thinking about your brother's vision?" the bovine in a gray robe with black linings inquired. Niu and the rest of the Nine had logical confusion to contemplate their brother's issue. "We don't know about his disturbance that keeps bugging him for a reason."

"Lao is closely inspecting his concern for that matter, Niu," Xing clarified, seeking Lao and his grandmother beside a stream. "He might have been hurtful inside of him, and he cannot show his feelings outside."

The rabbit bounded on the table, and plates vibrated at once. "Has Lao been hurt, sweetie?" Hong drew her sai daggers, widening her eyes with dark lids around. "Nobody ever starts crossing my boyfriend again. If anyone starts bullying him, they must go through me first!"

Xing chuckled at Hong. "Such bravery. I can see you two are close right now, Hong."

"How close?" Hong asked.

"You and Lao," the tiger pointed her and Lao outside.

Hong turned her head outside, swirling her eyes, her heart pulsing forward. Her eyes began wobbling apart as if the rabbit sensed the peacock's breath. She thought of herself collapsing her long ears and spooning the peafowl within the bedroom, covering and humbling in their sleep.

Hong cracked her gasp. "Wait, I—"

"You both are fine," Xing calmed Hong. "We understand this friendship between you two. Lao is the only one who desires someone unique in all of China, and all he does is he seems very confident like you are. You both deserve a triumph."

"Then I'll flirt with my peacock to the end, honey," Hong flirted while beaming to many blue eyes of the Nine. "He's my better judgment."

"And let me ask you two simple questions, Hong," Xing pointed to the bunny. "Just to be clear, we, including you, will keep our words confidential."

"Go on."

Xing drew his head close. "You think Lao is your true love, Hong?" he asked.

"Yes."

"You would marry my brother, can you?"

And Hong had done the answers. The Nine overheard their lovely sister that Hong considered marriage to Lao. Xing imagined them dressed in red robes, striding across the Fighting Square that poured with blossoms and white snow from the gray horizon. Young Ox Niu beside them carried a pea-bun cub with black beaks and long bunny ears. Further on, contemplating their imagination made the tiger chortle, picturing kids that glimpsed the grasp of feathers with furs as both stood in front of themselves with the Marriage Swore phrase.

The Nine's Leader laughed hysterically, and the Nine roared their giggles, considering both Lao and Hong's future raising their children. Lao would not have kids between their blended fur and feathers; either half might get half lips and halfbeaks. Lao and Ming listened to the Nine's boisterous guffaws as neither realized the meaning of humorous jesters. Auh, children. Ming continued meditating with Lao further on without waking.

"You are out of your mind, Hong!" Xing beamed while laughing. "My brother should have heard what you said!"

"At least that's such adorable," Fǎnshè chuckled next to Zhao and Lotus the Wolf.

"Aye," Shou giggled. "It has."

Just then, the Nine calmed their hysterical cries as most of them went to their chambers after their belief discerned both Lao and Hong's future of feather-fur children. Most could not handle their amusements, despite the insanity from their bunny companion that she schemed to vow marriage with the peacock. A sort of jester, but a good one, she tried. Hong had been with Xing, Lao, and Lotus for almost thirteen years; with her experience of remedies, even her ears were the gift of a better listener, the bunny had her type of compassion toward the Nine.

Chen Xing, Hong, Niu, and Lotus decided to stay in a dining room regarding their peacock brother to unveil whenever Lao and Ming finished their meditation. At that moment, Lotus in the nightgown kimono asked. "Has Lao been okay, Xing?"

"Well, I can simplify the meaning of our brother being humbled secretly for the last six months," the tiger replied. Xing caressed his finished mug above the edges with his digit. "He might have foreseen something he entirely forgets. Likewise, his illusions are somewhat compared to Nana's and my origin that we both experienced."

"And Lao?" Lotus pointed the peacock beside the Nine's Master. "His meditation continuously lets our brother investigate some vision."

"He's getting there," Xing responded to Lotus. "Lao needs more time with Nana until he's done meditating."

A young Ox leaned his back straight, clasping his hoofs on the dining table, glittering his heterochromia eyes of crimson and cobalt. "Does his mother know about her son, Xing?"

Xing shook his head, not knowing the queen's awareness of her son's struggle. "Mom hasn't noticed about her son," Xing clarified to all three in front. "I'll keep in mind that this week for Bao's turn, Lotus and I should talk to her."

"How bad is it?" Lotus drooped her midnight ears. "Some… forest and wolf growl?"

Xing knew the Nine overheard last night's conversation as if the peacock visioned either nightmare issues or memory he recalled before. The Nine's Leader glanced at the Fighting Square near the creak where his grandmother and brother perched on the grass. "That's what I'm worried about," Xing said. The tiger wondered about his brother's grave flashback that continued haunting the peacock, discerning that he had felt his nightmare before. The Nine's Leader apprehended how terrible his memory went that he sought his dead parents killed on fire by a monster, and Ming saved her grandson from evil beneath the trees. Lao and Xing had different nightmare flashbacks but the same principles of suffering.

Breathing in and out, as far as the Nine's Brilliance meditated, a flinch made him twitch his head, humming with a soft grunt. The black curved his neck, and visions scratched his feathers. Ruptures of wood had drawn him in the illusion.


Cracks of wood inside a large manor shattered slowly. The young peachick trembled under the counter where he crouched there, near the room of glass pots and minerals within bowls. The peahen mother in pink robes screamed and snatched her son from the lab after the inferno spread like a river pouring from the ceiling. Lao and his mother sought their neighbors inside the living room. Their neighbors were a swan family, frightened by unfamiliar shouts and shrill fires that stormed to Lao's old home, Summit Village. The birds demanded themselves about the attack and what had caused it by whom. Young Lao could not catch their frightening words. Instead, he saw a small, allured swan tightening her wings around her black swan mother, touching their necks.

Xia's husband yelled from behind, ordering her to depart with him. Lao was confused about the meaning of his parents quarreling at each other's throats. The flash collapsed the wooden ceiling and made a spouse scream. Xia dashed out on a large corridor that was scorching to flames. She bore her son tightly, racing across the large hallway which cabinets perched on before, and a swan family followed them. Lao mumbled his cry, gazing at this poor swan being guided by her parent. Flames above these swans collapsed their way.

Xia shattered through the collapsing window and stormed out of the mansion, sprinting into the dark woods. Terror of birds wailed amidst the raging snow, blended with embers among the Summit Village.

Why were they running from their spouse? Where is his father?

Who was the husband of her mother?

And who was that swan Lao never noticed a marvelous creature with her parents?

Blizzards across these ridgy woods erupted them, touched their silks and feathers, and Lao leaned his mother's cheek forward. A silhouette wolf spawned beside the gap logs in front growled at them, and Lao turned away with a brilliant flash.


The Nine's Master glimpsed her gifted student flinch his body and neck. "Lao?" Ming called her peacock student. Was that a nightmare or a memory? She could not ask him to regard his mysterious vision. Panting heavily, Lao rose and turned away from the quiet waters, clenching his feathers as his glaring eyes narrowed. His talon clouted a crocodile dummy across the Fighting Square. The Nine chronicled the broken model and sprung from their bedrooms and the dining room.

Chen Xing was the one made through the Quarter's door and saw his peacock brother growl his throat and ramble toward the temple's mahogany door. "Brother?" Xing widened his stone eyes. Lao kicked the entrance as eight of the Nine watched him leave. Ming gestured her paw toward her students to a halt, ordering them to stay once she followed the peacock, and Lao stopped on the road of the Prosper Valley.

Plenty of villagers sauntering their path on both sides stared at the peacock, murmuring their voices. What was going on? Why is Lao mad? Is he alright?

While standing still, suppressing hot boils within his veins, the peacock relieved his breath slow and steady once closing his azure eyes. The Nine in front of the gate peeked at their brother while Ming approached behind the young albino close enough. Chen Xing, Lotus, and Hong ascended a brick wall of the roof tile. Niu, Shou, and Zhao stood close to the door, and both Bao and Fǎnshè reached the right wall beside the door.

Chen Ming used to serene her students that she felt Lao's clenched strength close to his feathers and how he was humiliated after a peacock saw a vision of disturbance. "Lao?" his teacher called him dearly, strolling behind the peacock. To Lao's thought, the old voice pacified his feeling and firmly settled his anger. "Are you alright?" Ming asked, her paws palming on Lao's both shoulders.

The peacock shut his eyes as he craned his long neck down to the dirt. "Never been better, Master Ming," Lao crooned.

"What happened, my dear? You saw the disturbance while we made inner peace. Is there something you need to tell me, son?"

Lao knew he desired to have support from the Nine, including his Master. For six months, he endured, surveying brief illusions, which had been calling to him, each by nightfall during his sleep. He never wanted to express to any of his brothers and two sisters of the Nine that he faced a muddle. Lao began to admit as he raised his head.

"I must admit about my struggle, Master Ming," Lao illuminated to Ming scarcely. "You and the Nine will not understand what I saw during sleep and meditation."

"You saw something distressing. What was it, Lao?" Ming held her chin, raising her weary eyes.

"I saw a fire," he elaborated, making the Nine exchange their glances warily. "There were walls and ceilings shattered in the mansion. Then villagers outside were wailing. These fantasies were nonsense. But there's only one I saw. This swan girl was the one I might have known first before your grandson and the rest of the Nine. My unknown genesis I think of that nightmare is what fire killed a swan and made me the murderer. I didn't want to share this with the Nine because I suffered. I must continue meditating to reveal how I became a killer."

"No, my dear. You are not a murderer," Ming contradicted, stroking the peacock's shoulders and conversing with her beloved student. "You have been through with the Nine, and they remember who you are as a friend to them. Your friends anticipate you as an exceptional companion and a brother, very bright you have become. They always give honor in your presence. Look at me, son."

Lao watched Chen Ming's stone eyes. She continued. "Being humiliated to yourself wasn't part of this nature. The vision you might consider is not what you see in the nightmare, Lao. It is a memory," Ming elaborated on Lao's troubling revelation that represented the remembrance of a memory pool. Lao sustained Ming's clarification as he comprehended with his Master once more. "The memory you seek first will prevail, and secondly, the inner peace I'd learn from Grandmaster Oogway can flow through your peace of mind to reveal your 'unpredictable' consciousness. Let me explain: An old friend from Jade Palace told me his student found peace ten years ago, and the Dragon Warrior sought his birth parents, the panda meant to become. He was the one who your Grandmaster fulfilled his five-hundred-year prophecy and chose the panda well to defeat Oogway's evil brother. The Dragon Warrior made every land of China safe more than ever.

"The Nine do know about your frustrations. And we can help you meditate, be happier with your brothers and sisters, be entertaining to Shou's last days of the pirate, and spend time with my grandson and your sister, Lotus. By such greatness in you, Lao, the Nine do not see you as a threat and killer."

Ming's paw fondled to peacock's cheek. Her silk paws were more smooth than his peahen mother's feathers. "You will know this memory you seek can prevail, Lao," Ming convinced Lao. "Be like water."

Be like water was essential for every martial artist in China. Be specific to any being's struggling situation for problems you must solve. Communing with anyone you love most is like any work job or family relationship you have been going through circumstances. They want to consider the cause of someone's problems and take care of the boss's important project or people you close with; they desire to speak about their issues.

Lao embarked on walking across the village for a night after Ming told him she could bring one of the Nine to look after a peacock. Be like water, an elder's smooth voice repeatedly echoed through Lao's intelligence. He used to know every land through this sauntering road and recognized many of his villagers long enough since he and his peahen mother arrived at Ming's Shuǐ Palace. The villagers conceded to him, and many esteemed him because Lao's mother was a Lady, and the peafowl was a Prince. Lao only referred to himself as the villager and average person instead of greediness, nor a noble peafowl like any lord.

A pink sow in a green flower and gold kimono raised her eyebrows. "Are you alright, Lao?"

For a weekend, this neighbor who occupied Ming's Palace was mainly the clothing maker who sewed silk robes to Lao and Xing to honor Master Ming as students. This clothing maker sewed garments for anyone wearing small to large sizes of their clothing correctly. A sow named Mrs. Yan was a teacher, farmer, and painter. She met Lao before on his first day of school, along with Xing and Lotus. Lao, Xing, and Lotus desired paintings of endless steep mountain backgrounds and farming beside her cabin near the streams.

"I'm well, Mrs. Yan," Lao replied, wandering forward. "Had a long day recently."

"I'm always available, sweetheart. If there's anything you wish to speak with me," she brushed her heart, and Lao nodded before departing. The peacock had this anger from a mysterious generation, as neither wanted to be upset. Instead, he did not want to be part of this sour anticipation in front of his friends and villagers.

For a long walk after ten minutes, the peacock relished in solitude with gentle breezes, saluting villagers passing by. Soft steps crept from behind, chuckles emerging at once. Each time, in isolation after hours of training by walking off across the Prosper Valley, he determined his wolf sister, which gave a glimpse of her scheme to stalk behind and then capture her prey on him at all times.

Lotus, by the Gods, not now.

Lao went left toward the alleyway, revolving his head behind; the rabbit in an ocean robe on a pile of wooden barrels fell into the dirt.

"Ha!" the bunny chortled after she tripped. "I knew you could hear my sneaky steps!"

"You stalker," Lao scoffed to Hong. The bunny stood and continued smirking. "I thought Lotus was the one attempting to scare me."

"Nah, she knows you are mad, not really. Lotus decides to stay with her brother while you need to take a walk. With me, thank you, Master Ming!" Hong said.

"So, you prefer to spend your nights walking, talking, and grooving through the village to entertain ourselves?"

"Can that grooving treat Lotus and much of your brother Xing?" Hong mopped plenty of dirt off of her kimono garment.

"You're quite envious," Lao exchanged his determined glance. "I don't see how many bunnies can melt through such feathers with bird villagers."

"But that rabbit like me who opposed the panda since a winter festival," she told the peacock about one of her family relatives. She stood ahead of the peacock and craned her neck above. "My old cousin still lives in his old house near the Valley of Peace."

"About this 'walking, talking, and grooving' we are going for," Lao tugged his feathers in draped sleeves. "You have enough words to express my soul to you."

"Is this about love, Lao?" the bunny asked, her chanting voice deafened to curiosity.

Love?! He gasped inaudibly. "Lotus and I are close; she will always be my sister. You have been madly in love with me for thirteen years since you came here."

"You wouldn't be mindful yourself about your mother," Hong wondered, clasping her paws behind her back as both strolled across the street. "Hasn't Lady Xia taught you how to treat a lady?"

"Naturally," the peacock answered.

"Then I'll just join aside through your spine," Hong leaped behind Lao's robe from behind.

"What are you doing?" Lao widened at the bunny, wobbling.

Hong embraced and cuddled her cheek around Lao's neck, buzzing her soft throat. "Your mother urged you to treat any lady. You be walking," the rabbit pointed forward, "then I shall start talking and grooving with you."

Lao and Hong sought a forest near the streamside path, with a vast landscape of steep mountains. "You want me to soar across this valley while you ride on my back? You're insane!" Lao shook his head.

"That's your excuse, lovely," Hong shoved his neck. "Mush!"


II. (IX) The Discovery

Summer of 1177 (A week after Tai Lung's aftermath)

Oogway was at the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom with his student Tigress and the situation between her and Shifu's adoptive son was vulnerable. Inside the Hall of Heroes, a student-master Ming in a silver blue garment bore the messenger's scroll and scrutinized her son's message. Shifu had his leg limping when heading straight to his partner near the moon's pool. With this news, rhino guards finally escorted Tai Lung to Chorh-Gom Prison. A brother and sister bond did grow strong, but Tigress revealed her brother's actions, and that only Oogway spoke with her, she had to let Tai Lung go from not seeing each other again. Tai Lung was forbidden to return home and no longer be part of Shifu's family.

Ming glanced at Shifu. "I have to go home. My son needs me. Someone lurks in my brother's village, planning to threaten my people, and that happened to Tigress's parents five years ago. You must be her adoptive father, Shifu. The same goes for Master Oogway as her grandfather. Tigress is too pure, just like her cousin. Our teacher knows I am departing today."

Pondering this difficult departure, Shifu watched Ming bear her bamboo equipment bags and stroll toward the door. His legs began cringing as he followed her using his cane. "When will you return, sister?"

Ming looked at misty ridges down to the East, still in front of the opened gate. "I may or may not see you three. Maybe never."

"Wait—"

"I cannot stand this grief here any further, Shifu!" Ming snapped upon her shoulder at him, whose ears drooped. Sighing while clasping paws on her face, the feline breathed in. "You know Tai Lung is like a child of our own. I wanted to help him," she shed tears at Shifu, "and you sent our boy away. . ."

"Oogway and I were the ones to send him away, Ming. Putting our son away was the only way to end his outrage."

The feline stroked her tears after looking away from the red panda. "Stay with me. Don't go," Shifu rasped his feeble voice, begging and palming his heart.

"I'm sorry, brother. It is time for me to defend my firstborn son from whatever this threat stands in every soul's way. I will defeat it." Her lips softly quivered. Putting down her bamboo travel bag, Ming knelt and enfolded Shifu, and the red panda did the same. "Please, for the love of all the Gods, stay with my niece, Shifu. Do not let anyone discover her name of inheritance."


He recalled his sister-in-arms with Oogway long ago in the Jade Palace.

Shifu stood near the Moon Pool inside the Hall of Heroes, the aqua hue reflecting ripples cast on his body. On top of his partner, he was the arrogant one, Shifu pondered of Chen Ming, far clever by his side, and their Grandmaster. Their adoptive son was unique to being the Hero of China, despite themselves insisting on pushing their student harder, the bold and most brilliant. Something that prevented Tai Lung from becoming an extraordinary warrior made their hearts crumble to a thousand pieces. Oogway predicted that the Great Dragon bore darkness in his heart; Chen Ming wished to change him and contradict her Grandmaster's vision. And Shifu made his difficult decision after the catastrophe.

I wished I could have done to save our son with you, sister. I am sorry. . .

Fading steps approached from the Hall of Heroes doorway, and Tigress and Po sauntered, passing the rarest artifacts of ancient armaments and armors, those placed in each section beyond paintings of heroic warriors who many wielded and dressed in battles. They sought their Master stand near the Moon Pool, who was clasping his hands behind his back, reflecting his adoptive daughter's genesis before Tigress came along with the Furious Five and the panda.

Shifu embarked on Tigress, seeking soft waves of pool water below. "Many centuries ago, an ancient monastery was called Qing Temple. It was the land of harmony where dynamic warriors of martial artists made Wing Chun and Tai Chi after Oogway created Kung Fu. A siege stormed into the monastery, laid waste to rubble, and many students but those who survived fell. Days after the catastrophe, Master Oogway searched for the remaining students on those scattered and found plenty, even his companion. She was the creator of Wing Chun, and the maker's name was Mui Tan Huang, your ancestor, Tigress."

"Whoa! You have a hardcore ancestor, Tigress!" Po beamed.

Shifu continued as Tigress kept her posture. "One of my own used to live in Jade Palace, been the closest one I had ever known when Oogway brought his dear companion before you arrived at Bao Gu Orphanage. And our friend, Tigress, is my sister-in-arms — your aunt, Chen Ming. Master Ming is a distinctive warrior of Qing Temple heritage. She and I had assembled to ourselves after I initially met her. For years, she has been training Wing Chun, passed from her ancestor survivors the way she studied their ancient scrolls. And now, she teaches nine students. One of them is her grandson.

"Ming had her son during our peaceful days, even her relative sister, both of their same bloodline followed by their ancestors. I might have wondered if Ming's sister was in trouble after raising Tai Lung for twenty years at my youngest age. The last message your aunt received from her sibling, she and Ming's brother-in-law fled into the hidden woods. There were no other messages returned from either of them."

The red panda turned, his paw reaching Tigress while she knelt beside him. She gently gripped her Master's hand once her adoptive father continued further. "Five years after the mysterious incident, I went to the Bao Gu Orphanage to hear the caretaker's disturbance. She had an issue with keeping one soul while children had been scared of one, an only child, which the caretaker had discovered of the girl's parents. The child's parents were. . . Chen Ming's sister and her brother-in-law — your parents."

WHAT?! Po rose his green eyes.

Tigress sensed her chest colder than the grasp of Po's hug. Her throat dragged back as she slightly opened her lips.

"Tigress," Shifu peered at his daughter's eyes thriving. "After waiting years to hear any rumors about your parents, we considered that your mother and father had been missing, never able to return to bring their only daughter home."

The revelation impacted Shifu's daughter. Tigress pulled her small tears from her amber eyes, and Po flattened his paw against her back. Not as humiliated, the panda cared more about Tigress in such spirit by being much closer to her and the rest of Furious Five, like the family he cherished most.

"There is one who desires to meet you in person," Shifu apprised his adoptive daughter.

"Who, Master?" Tigress asked.

"Your mother's sister," Shifu told his foster daughter. "Your aunt is pleased to see you soon, and she urges me to greet Furious Five and Dragon Warrior, allowing us to introduce Fellowship students. Ming will be the only one to converse with you about her interpretation of her sister."

The red panda's paw clasped his daughter's and continued. "Months after you've been here, a week after the dark day that your adoptive brother was sent to Chorh-Gom Prison, I wished that I could have done to help Tai Lung — the way your aunt strongly wished to keep him here. Complications were in turmoil; many villagers refused to let Tai Lung linger but to stay rotten in prison instead. So, Oogway and I only decided to give in, only to never again emerge chaos from him. Chen Ming moved on after she decided to head home, knowing her families were in danger."

"Forgive me, Master. I must take a walk."

She stood, bowed to her adoptive father once, and dispersed toward the clearing paths of Garden Masters. Either of these masters promised not to mention Tai Lung in their presence, which only both Tigress and Shifu could experience terrible agonies. Now through the years, as long as not to make things personal to their adopted family, they could only consider one thing that truly mattered the most: move forward and neglect the past. Shifu gave his soft sigh, perceiving that he had weak points to speak with his adoptive daughter, something that he had to regain what's broken. Being an adoptive dad to him was never a good taste to make Shifu push his students harder, and one of his kept his heart broken more. His promise to treat his daughter for Ming's sake had failed him to watch over Tigress. Perhaps he was a terrible father, but he achieved what Shifu needed to do Ming's favor.

The Dragon Warrior pardoned his teacher, bowing to him. "I'll keep an eye on her, Master Shifu."

Shifu watched Po depart out of the Jade Palace temple, beginning to pace his stroll on the Garden of Masters path.

Now my daughter has to decide. . .


By the next hour, Tigress perched her back behind a Sacred Peach Tree, pondering her aunt that she never knew one of her parents' siblings, alive and well. Crossing her arms over her knees while in solitude, Tigress needed to relieve her moments to ponder if she was the only striped feline tiger left. Indeed, during the years of training, she and her adoptive father kept their words confidential to discover her kin, only to expect a miracle, to receive a word from anyone like Tigress.

Foliage blossoms swam above Tigress's forehead. The tree felt the same way as Tigress's isolation. Had Tigress noticed a Peach Tree being alone like her? The only that smiled her more was Tigress reflecting on her Grandmaster Oogway, who sought a stripped feline so unique within her spirit compared to other striped tigers the tortoise had met. She recalled him as she and the old tortoise perched near the cliff of Peach Tree, knowing her thoughts were so broken and considered her adoptive father shameful; with a mistake, Tigress summoned four from different houses. Was it the scroll that changed four of the Five becoming masters? Maybe the manuscript was replaced accidentally?

Accidents tended to happen, but there were no accidents if the Grandmaster Oogway was around with her. The voice of the elder tortoise healed Tigress's thoughts, the flesh of a warm heart flowing more placidly than ever. She missed him so much.

Many warriors and students bore emotions by that time when spending their loved ones; they cared more for siblings and friendships. Tigress thought about her Grandmaster Oogway.

Heavy steps thrived closer to her left; Tigress used several senses of friendly approach and enemies with clenched fists and eyes broad and narrow. There was one who was more forgiving than his reptile sister, including the Five.

"Shall I join you, Tigress?"

The black and white bear stood beside the striped feline and the Peach Tree.

Tigress only observed the velvet blue sky, the ocean sparkling with pale stars among the realm. She heard Po's words, alright knowing to accept him by doing so; Tigress needed someone to be in touch with instead of being alone in the dark.

"I did not know you have your aunt," Po said. "None of us know that."

"Us?" she repeated, not in a hostile tone but concerned.

"The Five know," Po explained as he sat beside her, perching behind a Peach Tree. "I had to tell them about you."

The panda elbowed the log, and a peach fruit landed on Po's giant claw. They glanced at specks of trees throughout the Guilin mountains, the moonlight glinting above the stars. For a moment, neither had to speak, but lanterns perched villages down to the Valley of Peace and across the mountains of Guilin were thriving before the two could feel whispers from the breeze. Is this really true? All of them? How long was I have been the only tiger?

Tigress recalled a thought from Shifu.

Ming had her son before during our peaceful and struggling days back then, even a sister of her kin, both of the same bloodline followed by their ancestors.

By she regarded Shifu's words carefully, discovering furthermore.

Master Ming is a distinctive warrior of Qing Temple heritage. She has been training in Wing Chun for years she passed from her ancestors. And now, she teaches nine students. One of them is her grandson.

Continuous thoughts from Tigress, she opened her smile peacefully inside instead of showing outside. Po continued communing as he visualized Ox's son, wanting to see Thundering Rhino's godson from the earlier discussion in Ping's restaurant.

"I was like, 'WOW! Thundering Rhino is your son's godfather!' and—" Po peered at Tigress, whose amber eyes met blossom petals billowing next to her. "Tigress, you listening?"

"I have a nephew…." Tigress nodded.

Nephew?

"You do?" Po rose his jade eyes.

"If you listened Shifu close enough," Tigress continued, "my aunt has nine students of hers from that class, and one of them is her grandson. When Shifu said that Ming used to have a son before, I had a cousin who I had never met him. I'm certain that my mother, which I may never remember a face, has her sister. Whatever else happened to my cousin, then I should meet my aunt about her son."

She turned to the panda. "I wonder if my cousin married someone who was my sister-in-law and gave birth to a tiger cub, which might be why their son had a family before. If that happened when Ming's son and sister-in-law died, I should share my condolences with my nephew's family. I wish I could see my cousin's son. That may be the case; I still have a family of my own, my bloodline. I've been a sole tiger after all these years, realized and questioned myself, including Shifu. I have so many questions to ask the two."

Po palmed Tigress's back. "You will. And that's why all of us will go there tomorrow, Tigress. The Five will honor the class and meet your family."

Just then, an unexpected voice summoned beside Tigress behind a tree. "You see!" The bug spawned beside Peach Tree, "Now I know you guys are besties!"

"Yeah," Crane agreed after soaring, "Last time, you both hugged back there in Gongmen City after Shen's defeat."

"We start the wedding," Monkey quipped as he stood in front of Tigress and Po, clasping both paws of the black and white bear and tiger. "You may kiss your moon, Po."

"Monkey!" Viper hissed ahead of Monkey.

"I… object," Monkey efforted, once massaging his neck.

Po was gesturing his palms to everyone. "Guys, come on. There's no such thing as we are engaged, but we stick together as friends. I can be her family."

"And we are family, my panda brother," Viper addressed, vibrating her tongue of affection.

"So," Mantis pondered them two, leaping on Monkey's shoulder, "what were you guys talking about?"

"It's something that I've kept thinking that I am only the last one," Tigress spoke.

Reading her lips well as if the expression was priceless enough to determine her consciousness, Viper slithered onto the feline's legs. "We know what you mean. You finally found a family."

"You know, Tigress," Monkey embarked in front of the Five's alpha. "I never knew who my father was after I'd known my mother a while back. Even we heard about Po's parents back then, and his father came. Even then, I still have many questions about my own, and I do not know where he may be for years. We know your parents will not return, and I feel pity. But now, your family has returned, and we will meet your kind."

"You see," Po pointed, explaining that most of the Furious Five had their own families but never gone. "Just like what Shifu said back there."

"Hardcore do understand," Crane sauntered in front, then turned to Po. "And your noodles are getting cold, that turns out."

"It's almost bedtime — hey! My noodles!" the panda sprang his whole body.

Buzzing wings and antennae landed on Po's shoulder. "I killed it, Po," Mantis smirked.

Dragon Warrior glimmered his eyes at Mantis. "How?" the panda questioned confusingly.

How in the name of Gods did Mantis eat Po's noodles through the insect's small, empty stomach?

The feline was the first to widen her amber eyes once her insect brother continued. "My mouth just went bigger than yours," the insect acquainted Po by jesting. "I activated 'antenna power!' and suddenly killed it with my hunger!"

"Now that's hardcore," Po laughed as Tigress rose from the root she sat while all strolled into the forest to Student Barrack. "Come on, guys, we eat, sleep, and skadoosh! Go to Master Ming's monastery!"


Tigress is no longer the sole tiger who we all desperately love to see her parents. Maybe someday to discover her family like Po's revelation in KFP 3 as his dad reunited him? Dreamworks has to do the same for Tigress. Would you agree that we the pandoms desire to see Tigress's parents? One of her family members? A mother, perhaps?

I like the vision I crave for the Mightiest Warriors series for Tigress no longer being one and the only tiger in China. Pandas came in the third movie, so Tigers are next in the future for Tigress and heaven's sake! Big shoutout: We want tigers! We want tigers!

Anyone?