Kai is not at the Jade Palace yet, but a very important character will arrive in this chapter!

phetiamwantip: Thank you so much! Your continued loyalty is so valuable to me :)

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In the mountains

Po, Li, and Klara had been walking for several hours. The weather was beautiful for hiking: the summer sun was beaming down, but the mountain winds were keeping the three hikers comfortably cool.

Li and Po were panting lightly. Despite Li searching years for Po, and Po being the actual Dragon Warrior, stamina was an attribute that avoided the two pandas like a plague.

Klara, on the other hoof, was skipping along like a child on her way to school. Klara had spent ten months hiking across all of Asia with Elena just to find her father. She had scaled mountains, survived Russian winters, and trudged through the Gobi desert. She had feet of steel. No feat of geography could tire out this eight-year-old.

So, while Po and Li were sitting taking their first break about five hours out from the Jade Palace, Klara looked around searching for wildflowers. Po watched her out of the corner of his eyes, "Don't go too far." He panted, sitting on his rump. Klara nodded in understanding.

As Po threw his backpack onto the ground, he heard a muffled squawk come from inside. Po narrowed his eyes. He crawled over to the backpack and ripped it open. What he saw honestly surprised him.

Inside the backpack, Mr. Ping was scrunched up on top of the food and supplies. He saw Po staring, confused, at him, and smiled sheepishly, "Hi, son."

"Dad?! What are you doing here?!" Po exclaimed. Mr. Ping crawled out of the backpack, and Li and Klara watched in shock.

"What am I doing?" The goose grumbled grumpily, "I'm getting a backache! Did you have to step on every rock and twig in your path?" He asked. Po shook his head,

"That's not what I mean!"

Mr. Ping nodded, knowing exactly what Po meant, "I had to come! I simply couldn't let you and Klara go all alone! What if the pandas have food you don't like? You can't save the world on an empty stomach! Those pandas probably don't even know how to make pierogi! We can't let poor Klara starve."

Li pursed his lips. He had never even heard of pirogi. But as Po and Mr. Ping argued, he turned and looked at Klara, who was holding a bundle of wildflowers in her hooves. She had seemed initially shocked at Mr. Ping's appearance but had simply shrugged it off and turned to collect her flowers. She was more than happy to welcome the goose on the journey. But Li had other thoughts,

"It's supposed to be a secret panda village. We can't share the location with anyone."

"You think I can't keep a secret?!" Mr. Ping demanded. He waddled towards Li, stopping in front of him, "I raised Po for over twenty years before I told him he was adopted!" The goose pointed a feathery finger at Po.

Li frowned, "Seriously?"

Po nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, it was crazy." The panda said, reminiscing on the memories.

The large panda thought for a moment, before sighing. He was already bringing Klara along with him, so what harm would one more guest make? He looked up, "Alright, I guess it would be cruel to make you fly back." Li stood up, stretched, and began trekking down the path. Klara, noticing Li leaving, grabbed her bundle of wildflowers, skipped along with him.

Po's head shot up, "Wait, Dad, you can fly?!" The surprise and shock in his voice were almost tangible.

Mr. Ping moved to join Li and Klara, and didn't even look at Po when he responded, "I'm a bird, Po."

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In the Jade Palace

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Everyone looked at Tigress in surprise as she read the contents of the message.

"Huo is arriving tomorrow morning." She concluded.

It had only been a few months since Huo began his training. Every month, Shui would send Huo- with an escort- to the palace for two weeks of training. After those two weeks were over, the escort, whether it was Ri Chu, Wan, or any of the other wolves, would bring him back home until his next two weeks of training had commenced.

Shifu would have preferred to have Huo have longer stays at the Palace- Kung Fu was learned best if it was consistently practiced daily, but Shui wanted to keep Huo at the wolf village to be able to teach him the ways of the pack. So the two decided on two weeks at the palace, two weeks at home.

"Is there any way we can send him back to the village? He won't be safe with Kai coming." Viper said nervously.

Tigress scanned the scroll, "Ri Chu will be with him."

Shifu spoke up, "Tigress, you are Huo's godmother. You will be responsible for keeping him safe until the threat of Kai has passed. Until then, send a letter to Shui informing her of Kai."

"What if she wants Huo back?" Monkey asked, taking a bite of his pirogi.

"Shui doesn't know about Kai, yet, does she?" Viper asked.

"I'm sorry, but," Tai Lung interrupted, "who is Huo?" He glanced around. Mantis turned away from his pierogi- which was almost bigger than he was- and answered,

"What happened to you spying on us from the Spirit Realm?" He asked sarcastically.

The leopard flicked his tail, "I told you, I only watched over Leo to make sure he was safe. I didn't meddle in anyone else's business. Besides, I did other things in the Spirit Realm other than watching Leo."

"Like lose to Kai?" Mantis snickered under his breath.

"Can you stop?" Tai asked, irritated. Mantis didn't say anything else, but he had a mischievous smirk on his face that said he wasn't finished.

Leo took his turn to speak, "Huo is the son of Shui, who is the leader of the wolf pack that followed under Shen. Now that Shen is dead, they live in a village not too far from here."

"Thank you, Leo, for answering my question," Tai said with gusto.

Mantis rolled his eyes, and Shifu spoke up,

"If Huo is arriving, then we will just have to teach him chi as well." He then added, "Although, I don't know if he is strong enough to do anything with it yet."

A palace attendant entered the dining room with a scroll and quill for Tigress. She began writing to Shui, telling her that Kai was coming and that she, as well as the rest of the Jade Palace warriors, would do their best to protect Huo and that the wolf pack should be ready for anything should Kai or his Jombies come to their village.

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways. Tigress began getting Huo's room ready; it was nothing special, just a room on the second floor of the dorms, right above Tigress's room. Huo loved Tigress and would follow her around everywhere. Tigress never said anything, but secretly she adored having the little wolf pup follow her like a shadow.

The rest of the Five went to bed, and Master Shifu went to the Scroll Archives to try and find any scrolls that had chi techniques easy enough to teach a four-year-old. Tai Lung went to the Training Hall, intent on playing around with the new and improved obstacles. Leo followed him there.

"So," Tai asked, looking at the Dark Room, "it's just a room with the curtains drawn?"

"Yup. It's harder than it looks. You don't realize how much you rely on your sight until you have to fight in the dark." The lion commented. Tai shrugged and pushed through the blackout curtains.

"Wow. It is dark in here." Tai said. He couldn't even see his whiskers. He held out one paw to feel for any walls, tables, anything to help him get a feel for the area.

Leo, remembering what Shifu had done the first time he had entered the Dark Room, silently slid past the curtains. He circled Tai. Before he could even land a front kick to the leopard's chest, Tai blocked the lion's leg and fell into a sparring stance,

"Come on, Leo, I spent twenty years in a dark, cold prison. You didn't honestly think I have no awareness in the dark, did you?" Tai chuckled,

"Well, let's see how good that awareness is, brother." Leo challenged.

The two cats began sparring. Leo's ears picked up everything, whether it was the whoosh of Tai rearing his paw for a punch, the thump of their feet hitting the floor, or the swish of fur as they moved around the Dark Room.

"Seriously, Tai," Leo taunted, "what have you been doing in the Spirit Realm? Lazing around eating and watching me all day?" He asked, throwing a jab-cross to the leopard.

Tai growled heartily, "I think what you mean is," Tai blocked his punches, and countered with a front kick, "training with Master Oogway!"

As Leo and Tai continued sparring, light entered the Dark Room, causing both cats to stop and look to see who opened the curtains. Master Shifu stood there, watching the two spar. He had a proud grin on his face.

"Care to join?" Leo invited with a flick of his tail. Shifu smiled,

"Spar with my first two students?" He thought for a moment. "I would love-"

"No, it's fine," Tai said abruptly, "Leo and I can spar just fine by ourselves." The leopard sent a pointed glance at Leo. Leo looked at him, confused. Why did Tai not want to spar with Shifu?

Shifu's eyes widened slightly at Tai Lung's abrasiveness but then he spoke after a moment with a dejected sigh, "It's getting late anyhow. We need to rest and get ready for Kai. Both of you get to bed."

The two cats exited the Dark Room, and Leo escorted Tai to the dorms to show him the new rooms and where he would be sleeping. Shifu watched them go, a solemn look on his face. He would have loved to spar with them and see how much Tai had grown in the Spirit Realm, except Tai didn't seem to want anything to do with him. He gently rubbed the fabric of the curtain absentmindedly.

He needed to find a way to get Tai to trust him again before Kai arrived.

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The next morning

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Tigress was up bright and early the next morning, which was nothing new. On any normal day, Tigress would spend several hours in the training hall, moving between obstacles and taking turns sparring with Master Leo or Master Shifu, take a quick lunch and meditation break, then it would be back to training.

But that was on a normal day. Today was the day Huo arrived. Don't get her wrong, Tigress' life hasn't been uprooted by Huo's presence in the Palace, but having a four-year-old follow you around certainly takes up time in your schedule.

After taking breakfast to-go, Tigress raced down to the docks at the edge of the Valley of Peace. Many villagers greeted her as she ran past, and Tigress did her best to nod in their direction, but she was on a mission. She made it to the river and skidded to a halt. She scanned the docks for a particular boat: a small dinghy-like wooden boat with a dark, ocean-blue sail, made by Shui herself. It was the boat that Huo came to and from the Palace in.

But the only boats arriving at the docks were merchants, importing goods for their shops. Tigress flicked her tail. So, what else to do other than wait? She found a nearby bench in the shade and sat down, her eyes locked on the bend in the river where the familiar boat should soon turn the corner of the mountain.

A figure approached next to her, "May I join you?" Tigress looked up and saw Tai Lung standing there, glancing at her nervously.

"No." She scooted to the far edge of the bench.

Regardless, Tai still sat down on the other end of the bench. He crossed his legs and rested his arms on the back of the bench, "So, are we waiting for Huo?"

"I am waiting for Huo. You should go back to the Palace before the villagers see you."

Tai took a sidelong glance at her, and spoke, "Leo said I should join you. He said it would be a good idea to..um.." He cleared his throat, "help our relationship." He stared ahead, not looking at her.

Tigress pinned her ears to her head and flicked her tail in annoyance. Curse Leo and his constant need for making everyone want to get along. She glared at the river bend, willing the boat to appear so she could take Huo and get away from Tai.

"I still don't trust you. I have no reason to." She growled.

Tai nodded in understanding, "That's fair."

"You killed my brother." Tigress continued.

"Well, that, I didn't mean to do- wait." Tai stopped himself, "Leo is my brother. Shifu raised us together." An idea popped into the leopard's head, and he suddenly smirked, "I guess that makes us brother and sister."

With an angry growl, Tigress turned to glare at Tai, "Don't ever call me your sister again."

An amused grin on his face, Tai held up his paws, "Hey, I mean, it's the truth." Tai, despite the tiger's threat, wasn't scared of her in the slightest. He had beat her in combat before, and, though he wouldn't do it here, could probably beat her again if he tried.

Tigress felt her body tense and her claws unsheathe. Tai Lung was still a villain to her, even if Leo trusted him.

She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. It wouldn't do her any good if Huo saw her like this- riled up and angry. After relaxing, she opened her eyes and turned back to Tai, "If you want to stay here, fine, but if you so much as touch Huo, you're going back to the Spirit Realm." She said, calmly.

Tai held up his paws, "That's ok, but if you keep on threatening me like this, you won't notice the boat being docked behind you." He pointed a large finger over her shoulder.

Tigress turned and saw the transport boat was being docked. The blue sail was folded in and Ri Chu, the brown she-wolf who was there for Huo's birth, had hopped out and tied the boat to a post.

With a smile, Tigress approached. She didn't even look to make sure Tai was following her. Ri Chu saw her approaching and waved happily, "Good morning, Tigress!"

"Good morning," The tiger nodded in greeting. Tigress stepped near the edge of the dock and looked into the boat.

Sitting on the edge of the boat, staring into the water, was little Huo. The dark grey pup's tail was wagging eagerly as he watched the fish in the water.

"Good morning, Huo," Tigress called to him.

At the sound of his name being called, Huo turned. He saw Tigress, and his ruby-red eyes brightened.

"Tigress!" He squealed happily. He ran to the edge of the boat, holding up his paws to be lifted out. Tigress smiled and picked him up, placing him delicately on the docks.

"How are you doing, Huo?" She asked, a grin on her face. Huo held her large paw and the two walked towards the land, where Tai was watching from the bench.

"Good. Mama said I could learn how to do a jump kick!" Huo grinned toothily. Tigress smiled and turned to look at Ri Chu,

"Ri, there is something you need to know." She said quietly, so the pup wouldn't hear.

The brown wolf, after securing the boat to a post, turned and looked at Tigress, "What is it?"

"There is a villain, Kai, who is coming. I've sent word to Shui about it, but we fear he is more powerful than Shen."

At those words, Ri Chu's hackles rose. Whether from fear of the new threat or anger at the mention of Shen's name, Tigress didn't know. But Tigress continued, "I promise I will keep Huo safe, but I think it might be best for you to return to the pack, just until Kai is defeated."

Ri Chu's eyes narrowed as she thought over this. Usually, she would stay with Huo in the Jade Palace so he didn't get homesick and to take him home once his session was complete, but now, with Kai on the rise, she knew the pack would need help.

"We haven't had anything out of the ordinary happen, but if what you're saying is true, it would be best to stick with the pack." Ri Chu took a deep breath as she thought over her next move. With a resolute huff, she looked at the boat then to Tigress, "Tigress, I trust you, and so does Shui. Don't let anything happen to him." Ri Chu emphasized.

"I promise." Tigress smiled, looking down at Huo, who wasn't holding her hand. He wasn't by her side at all!

Alarm spiked in Tigress' heart, and she looked around, only to see him sitting beside Tai Lung on the bench in the shade. The young wolf was talking to Tai while fiddling with his fingers, while the leopard was smirking and looking smugly at Tigress, almost as if he were saying 'Not my fault he likes me!' What made Tigress angry was that Huo and Tai's sides were brushing together, almost as if they had been friends for years.

With an angry lash of her tail, Tigress turned to Ri Chu, "Tell Shui we will take great care of Huo."

"Will do, Master Tigress. I'll also tell Shui you said hello." Ri Chu nodded and began untying the boat. Tigress left Ri Chu to sail home, and the tiger marched over to Tai and Huo.

"Hi, Tigress! Tai-Tai said he can teach me how to learn...um.." Huo grew quiet for a moment, then spoke up, "he can teach me chi!"

"Tai-Tai?" Tigress asked, her teeth clenched in a fake smile. Huo grinned and wagged his tail. Tai Lung smirked and shrugged,

"I guess he likes me."

Tigress narrowed her eyes and took Huo's paw, leading him away from the leopard. Tai Lung got up and fell into step beside Huo. Huo, seeing the two cats flanking him, reached out for Tai's hand, and began holding it, so both of his paws were being held.

Tai smiled and began to swing Huo by his arm.

"Weee! Higher Tai-Tai!" The pup howled happily, his feet flying forward.

Tigress glared spitefully at Tai Lung. Huo was supposed to be her godson, not Tai Lungs! The leopard smirked knowingly at her, "Now now, Tigress, don't get mad in front of the child." He said, in a fake-stern voice, while swinging Huo.

She didn't say anything but tried to calm herself down. When they had climbed back to the palace, Huo's little pink tongue was lolling out of his mouth, and his fluffy tail was dragging behind him.

"Can we eat breakfast, now?" Huo panted.

"Of course," Tigress said.

Tigress and Huo entered the dining room, where warm bowls of stew were sitting waiting for them. Tigress placed Huo in his seat, and looked at Tai Lung, "Are you trying to prove something?" She asked as Tai sat down across from Huo.

Tai Lung looked at Tigress, "I'm just trying to build our relationship, as Leo suggested. You're the one acting difficult." He gulped a spoonful of his breakfast.

"I'm not being difficult. You're being obnoxious."

"By trying to bond with the child?" Tai asked, an eyebrow raised.

"I like Tai-Tai!" Huo said, loudly, "His fur is soft!" He squealed, eating some of his stew.

"He likes me. I don't know why you're being so harsh."

"It's because you killed Leo, crippled Shifu," Tigress held up her fingers to begin counting, "defaced the Hall of Warriors, need I go on?"

"No," Tai Lung growled, "because that was in the past." Tai Lung's ears flicked angrily, "I know what I did was wrong, and I acknowledge that Po is the Dragon Warrior. There, I said it. Po is the Dragon Warrior. I'm not. Are you happy?" Tai Lung angrily swallowed a spoonful of stew.

Tigress flicked her tail, "I'm not unhappy."

Tai Lung flicked his ear, and grabbed his bowl, lifting it to his lips and gulping it all. Right as he placed his bowl down, the rest of the Jade Palace residents, including Shifu and Leo Lung, entered the kitchen. They caught sight of Huo, and they all smiled, saying their 'hellos' and 'good mornings'.

Huo beamed as everyone greeted him. Although he had arrived at the Palace many times, he loved the morning he arrived, because everyone would be excited to see him and teach him Kung Fu.

Leo sat down next to Tai Lung, "So, Tai," he asked, "how are you and Tigress getting along?"

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Authors Note: Huo is here! Not a moment too soon! And it looks like Tai Lung is taking his job as big brother seriously!

Good news and bad news. Bad news first: I will have to start releasing chapters every other Saturday, instead of every Saturday. This way, I will be able to properly write and proofread every chapter without having to stress about not meeting the weekly deadline without feeling like the chapter is rushed.

The good news is, to substitute for the delayed releasing of chapters, I will have previews at the end of every chapter now. This preview will be one line of dialogue pulled from the next chapter. It won't give away any major spoilers, and I won't say who says the dialogue, but it will hopefully be enough to keep you guys engaged! My worst fear with this fanfiction is having you guys get tired of the story, after all!

Preview of Chapter 9:

"Oooooh. I'm so scared. Do you see me shaking, here? I'm trembling!"

Hmm. If you guys have anything to make of this, let's see it in the reviews! Do you think you know who says it, or what circumstance? And (as always) be sure to favorite and follow if you aren't already! See you guys on July 25!