Title: After the Darkest Night Comes the Brightest Dawn

Summary: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and at the end of the day, they were together.

A/N: Because I wanted a teamsnuggle!fic and there was none out there. So I decided to write one. And if any artists out there want to draw this, I'd be delighted. Also to make up for the random amount of angsty chapters.

Hey, I just updated, and this is crazy / I'm sorry for being so sad lately / Forgive me, maybe?

The morning had actually been nice.

Po had started off their day with a sizeable breakfast that he convinced Master Shifu to share with them. Tigress being, well, herself, was anxious at first—but a few minutes in to light conversation she sent the smallest of smiles in Po's direction, and he nodded in return. Afterwards they meditated – and soon grew bored of that, so they followed Master Shifu to the most beautiful spot on the mountaintop; where birds sang sweetly and the air was crisp, and the largest assortment of flowers Tigress had ever seen grew free. She blinked in bewilderment, and to her surprise Master Shifu chuckled and explained that he had always made sure it stayed hidden from her in her childhood.

Either way, the clearing was gorgeous and she promptly sat cross-legged to listen to whatever story Mantis had gotten Crane to indulge them with. (It was about his school years, specifically the first time he'd sparred someone twice his size and lost brutally, yet it still was entertaining to hear.)

They had spent hours there, enjoying the company of each other, and then Po stopped mid-laugh with wide eyes. He inhaled deeply, then gave the startling announcement, "Something's on fire." When no one reacted, he jumped to his feet and tugged on Tigress' arm. "A lot of things are on fire! Don't you smell the smoke? C'mon!" Showing an amount speed no one knew he had, Po charged towards the direction of the Palace.

At that point, the beauty of the day turned into an ugly nightmare.

Sadly, Po had been right. An enormous fire was raging through the village, and a particularly smug group of bandits stood in the midst of it all. Po had reached the scene before any of them. Without breaking his stride, he charged into the leader of the arsonists, screaming a vicious battle cry.

"What's going on?" Crane asked as he stumbled up behind her.

"I'm not su-" Tigress' breath escaped her in a gasp. She watched in horror as Po's anger flared and fueled his fight. "The fire," she said urgently, "we have to stop it."

"Shouldn't we help Po?"

Tigress turned to the simian. "If we keep his father's shop from being burned, we will be helping him." Without giving her words time to sink it, Tigress tossed out orders. "Crane, Monkey, find the nearest source of water and carry as much as you can back here. Viper and Mantis – you two start evacuating the villagers." She glanced briefly at Shifu, he nodded, and she told him, "You and I will rescue anyone who is trapped."

They scrambled to fulfill the orders, faster than ever…

But the smoke was thick and the bandits had brought company. Tigress paused in her task to help Po before he got hurt.

The aftermath of everything—the bandit's defeat, the fire's end, brought only bad news.

Po stood emotionless before his father's noodle shop. "You can't find him?" he asked Master Shifu numbly. "Did you look everywhere?"

The master in question was covered in soot; it rolled off his person in clouds has he nodded. "I…I'm sorry, Po."

"Yeah. Yeah, me too." The panda turned away with an unspoken resolution to hold in his tears.

Now it was nighttime. Villagers whose homes had been burned slept fretfully in the streets. Children cried constantly. The masters of the valley had been up the their noses in work—putting out leftover fires, reuniting families, rescuing those trapped in buildings…

Tigress shivered as she pulled her knees to her chest. During the day, the fire had given off a raging heat. Now its absence made the air cold.

She leaned heavily on a charred building's base, praying it wouldn't crumble on her. Monkey collapsed beside her, asleep before he even hit the ground. Viper didn't hesitate to curl close against him; and Crane took a somewhat protective perch beside both of them, never uttering a word. Mantis' usually happy hop had lost its skip, and he shuffled towards Tigress' knee and curled himself against it.

"So tired," he grumbled. "Stupid bandits. Stupid fire. Today could've been awesome."

"Agreed," Tigress whispered. The insect fell asleep shortly after his mutterings. Po caught her attention by sitting next to her. She hadn't been able to see him since they were at the remains of the noodle shop.

Quietly, as to not wake up the rest of the team, Tigress asked if he was alright.

Po looked thoughtful. "I've been better," he decided finally.

"Haven't we all?" Tigress mused. "This was a rubbish day."

"No kidding. I…I just hate thinking about it, you know? My dad's probably alone somewhere, worried sick about me, and I can't find him." Po sounded close to tears. "Wish we could've gotten those bandits before they started the fire."

"No use in pining for the past," Tigress advised. "You should sleep. You look like you need it."

In response Po yawned. Without warning, he slumped against her shoulder. Tigress muffled a yelp of surprise. "Po don't—" then the panda snored loudly, and she knew her argument was in vain. Tigress shifted awkwardly as to make herself more comfortable yet not wake either Po or Mantis.

Po, as if to make her task more difficult, began to drool.

"Blech," Tigress hissed.

She heard a soft chuckle. Embarrassed, she looked up and caught Master Shifu's eye. Just how long had he been sitting there? "I did not see you there, Master," she said, trying not to look disgusted by Po's slobber.

"It's alright," Shifu said sagely. "I can see you are…busy with other matters."

Tigress gave a small snort. "Yes. I'm trying to deny the offer of an impromptu saliva-shower…and it's not working."

A gust of cold wind blew. Tigress shivered violently; Po did as well and nuzzled her deeply in his sleep. Monkey rolled, narrowly avoiding Viper, and tucked himself neatly underneath Tigress' arm. Viper, not willing to lose her heat source, followed the primate in a daze. "Don't complain," she warned Tigress sleepily as she coiled herself in the feline's lap. She was asleep before she could hear a reply.

Master Shifu gave her a sympathetic look. "This is better than having them awake, at least. I wasn't expecting any of them to sleep so…"

"Soundly?" Tigress ventured as she experimentally nudged Monkey's head. He mumbled and swatted her paw away. Tigress smiled fondly at him.

"Yes," Shifu agreed with a grin. "…it has been an eventful day. For everyone really, though especially for Po."

As if the panda knew he was the topic for conversation, he twitched suddenly. Tigress didn't get a chance to comfort him; Crane had moved his perch closer to the rest of the group and put a wing on Po's shoulders. Po twitched a final time, then let out a loud, contented snore.

The wind blew again, with more force this time, but Tigress couldn't feel it. She was surrounded by the warmth of her friends, save for one spot by her shoulder…

"It is very cold," she observed quietly, watching Shifu shiver.

"Yes, but I'll manage – "

"Master…" Tigress gestured to the open spot with her chin. "There…is room for you."

Shifu stared at her for several seconds. "I…I couldn't possibly…"

"You wouldn't be much use to us if you froze overnight."

Shifu scowled at her. "Oh, fine," he said finally, quickly scooting towards her. Awkwardly, he rested against her shoulder and was surprised by Viper stretching so her head rested beneath his chin. Tigress raised her eyebrows at him.

"Don't look at me like that," Shifu said defensively.

"Look at you how?"

Shifu scoffed. "Goodnight, Tigress," he said pointedly.

Tigress smiled and looked up into the stars. She had half a mind to curse the gods for letting such an awful thing happen to the village, but at the same time, was grateful that they had given her a family like this that could make her feel warm and safe on such an awful night.

"Goodnight," she replied quietly.

She sighed happily and rested her head atop Po's. After a moment, she was vaguely aware that Crane had wrapped his other wing around her and Shifu, but she was much too tired to be certain.

Tigress fell asleep smiling.