~4 years after the defeat of Lord Shen.~

Tigress' eyelashes batted once or twice, before revealing her beautiful sunset orbs. She was meditating in the shady area of the court yard, as Viper was training with Monkey, watching each others slowly, eyes narrow, and back hunched in defense mode. They were working on a routine Shifu instructed them to do, which was now done to perfection, and without flaw. It was a lovely sunny morning, along with everyone's sunny moods, while cooling off in the shade. Tigress watched them in silence, watching their body movement closely. She could see Monkey was positioned in his mode to attack, though if he moved his arm slightly to the left, he would be protected by a pressure point being attacked by his opponent. She could tell him if she wanted to, but she wasn't the teacher, and thought she was better off not disturbing him, in case it set him off guard.

"Lookin' good guys!" Called Po, as he came out of the training hall all of a sudden. Monkey stopped and smiled as he waved.

"Thanks Po," he called back, before being knocked over by Viper. Po laughed as she thanked him for distracting her opponent, answering "Your most welcome."

"Hey no fair!" Pouted the primate, as if he was two years old. he sat up and crossed his arms in annoyance. "No helping is allowed!"

"I wasn't really meant to," said Po defensively, but he gave Viper a small wink. "I was only complimenting your process. You were the one who got distracted Monkey."

This made Viper giggle, before Monkey delcared; "Re-Match!"

Tigress smiled at the sight of the panda's gentle smile as the two started again, as she looked down at the gold ring on her forefinger.

"Hey there beautiful," greeted the panda, settling himself down beside her. She smirked as she looked up, and planted a small, quick kiss on his lips.

"Hey there handsome." She replied, holding his paw with the one with the gold ring, resting her head on his shoulder. The two have been married for only a year, and it has been a happy one for them. They confessed their feelings to each other under the moonlight, not long after the defeat of Lord Shen, were engaged after dating for 3 years, and then got married a month later. Despite the jokes from Monkey and Mantis here and there, and the people forever cooing or asking questions about their relationship so far every now and again, and Mr. Ping asking them awkward questions, everything else went on smoothly. The two moved into a modest, two story house not far from the Jade Palace, so they could still train with their comrades... whilst having some privacy together as a couple, but the two were given an option that whenever they fancied, they could either stay in the Palace after training, or they could just walk back home.

"Master Shifu wants to see you." He whispered into her ear. The ear he whispered into flattened across her head when he finished, while looking at him curiously.

"Why?" she questioned. Po shrugged, before answering; "No idea."

"Okay," she replied.

And so she stood up, and walked towards the hall of hero's, where she saw master Shifu, speaking with Zeng the Messenger.

As she drew closer to her master, she could hear them continue their small, and soft conversation. She couldn't detect what the two were saying, and assumed it was important and it was not for her ears to hear. She stood two feet away from them, and waited patiently for her master to finish with his employee. Shifu looked behind, and noticed her there. He cleared his throat, asking Tigress why was she there.

"I was informed you needed me?" She said. Shifu nodded, before turning to Zeng.

"You are dismissed." He stated. Zeng bowed in respect to Shifu, before bowing to the feline.

"Master Tigress." He said. She bowed back.

"Zeng." She replied, before her waddled off and did other errands around the palace. After it was silent again, Tigress and Shifu were the only ones left in the hall.

"What can I be in service?" Asked the feline once more. Shifu held himself up with his walking stick, while taking out a scroll.

"I have received a message from a neighbouring village that an important place is in danger of being to be torn down. We need to think of a fundraiser in order to save it."

Tigress nodded slowly.

"But why are you telling me this alone?" She questioned. Shifu just looked at her with seriousness in his eyes, the type Tigress had never ever seen before.

"The reason why is because this place is where you were there... for some time..."

Tigress looked at her with surprise and shock.

"You mean..."

Shifu nodded.

"Yes. The Bao Gu orphanage is in danger of being torn down, along with the chances of leaving many matrons and nurses unemployed and orphans homeless. The head nurse turned to us, considering you were..." he cleared his throat quickly. "Once in their care."

Tigress turned her head slightly away to the right from her master. The "in their care" part didn't seem to fit a good way to describe how she was treated back in Bao Gu as a child. It was something she never wanted to turn to and be haunted about again. She blocked it out of her present thoughts... Yet they were able to creep in and destroy her plans with Po as a married couple in the near future, and she couldn't stop them. Po was the one for loving and wanting children, but he knew never to ask Tigress until he thought it was the right time...

Each time she was heard from him; "I was thinking... maybe we could start a family?" it made her freeze, and if Po saw it, he remained mute for the rest of the day, or quickly moved on from the subject, and discussed something else like the weather, or some story he heard going around the Valley about a goat and a barrel of cabbage, laughing and saying that in his opinion it was absolutely comical. She laughed along too like she forgot the topic of kids altogether. But when she heard hint; "So when will i be expecting grandchildren?" From Mr. Ping, it made her have flashbacks when she was a child... really bad and unwelcoming ones.

Now the villagers were beginning to question her and Po about it... sometimes if they were separated from each other in the markets or if one was there while the other was at the Palace, or if they were together on the street or having a small quiet meal. Both usually said nothing at all... and she soon found herself starting to get sick of all the questions, because she never had an answer for anyone who questioned about it... all because of her troubled past. She never knew what Po said if they said it to him alone...

"I know the word 'care' isn't the best way to describe it," Shifu suddenly said, interrupting her thoughts. "But Mrs Mei Long, who is still there since from when you were young, asked specially, adding that she would like to see you again and know how you are doing..."

Tigress closed her eyes, feeling a hint of anger rising within her. She never liked Mei Long, who was the head matron of the orphanage when she was inhabited at Bao Gu, and the one who watched her growing up, let alone being the only who was able to discipline her. The other nurses addressed her as Sister Mei, and the child called her 'Lady Mei'. For those who question this part, Mei Long was a goat. And despite her puffy chest and furry joints, she was indeed small... spindely, stout, and very strict. Everyone was scared of her, even the older, and the some-what 'fearless' children. She had these small, beady eyes behind large, thick, and scary glasses, with a cane always near by or in hand. Tigress would've never imagined, let alone dreamed that the old goat would have ever wanted to see her again... but maybe she wanted to see her so she could pitch in to help save Bao Gu. She was a little surprised that the old bag was even breathing still...

Tigress looked back at her master.

"What else?" She asked, feeling that there is more coming.

"That's it."

That surely surprised her. She wasn't expecting that coming at all.

"It's your choice whether to do this event or not Master Tigress. They asked you specially to think about it." Shifu's voiced suddenly came out of nowhere. Tigress looked at her master. She had no choice.

"Alright. When do we leave?"

"Soon, gather the others and bring them here. I'll explain what's going on, then you will have to go home and gather some belongings and food for the trip. It could take all day to get there, maybe longer if we run into mischief," the elder panda explained. He gestured at the door. "Now go get the others."

Tigress bowed, before walking away. But when outside, she leaned against the pillar, and sighed heavily. She didn't want to see or EVER encounter with Mei Long ever again...

But hey, sometimes you had to break promises you make to yourself.

There you go everyone!

Hope you like the first chapter of

Sorry for being so long on all the stories! I have been doing videos!

Yeah! I'm on youtube now!

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