Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.

Chapter 1:

It all started one day. The alarm blared loudly in First Squad's room, signalling the capture of Commander Apetrully once again, though by whom they didn't know. They had immediately set off, followed closely by Second Squad, who were determined not to let their rivals succeed and take all the glory for themselves.

Shortly after arriving at Panther Castle, Lin Chung's eyes narrowed, trying to formulate a plan instead of encouraging them to just charge into battle. As expected, the majority of both squads had refused to heed Lin Chung's warning and had leaped straight into the battle, with only Jumpy, and - surprisingly - Kowloon, left. Kowloon growled at Lin Chung. "I don't know why I'm trusting you, but you better have a reason for not letting us fight."

Lin Chung's dark eyes bore into him. "Of course. I know the Panthers. They wouldn't capture Commander Apetrully without reason." He turned back, joining the battle, and the two joined him as they realised he was right. Bears, Jaguars and Polar Bears were scattered the battlefield as the number of Panthers still in battle dwindle dangerously.

Jumpy turned to his friend, and realised that his eyes were on someone else in the battle. A panther. She was leaping away from the bears with grace, before (and this unnerved him) she threw one of the bears and heaved him towards a group of polar bears and jaguars, putting them out of the battle.

Her eyes widened as she faced a jaguar, most likely one of the higher-ranking ones. She pointed behind him, and, curious, the jaguar turned, giving the panther the chance to kick him and once again throw him across the battlefield.

"Who's she?" Kowloon asked Lin Chung.

He grinned slightly. "My old friend. Yue." Almost everyone was captured now. They watched as Yue cartwheeled, dodging another bear and coming face-to-face with Highroller and Bearstomp. She smirked, pointing behind him once more, where the three of them were hidden, but Highroller laughed. "I'm not as stupid as that jaguar."

When he refused to turn around, Lin Chung immediately landed a blow on him, enabling Yue to kick the warlord into a tree. Lin Chung quickly pinned him to the tree with three bamboo shoots.

"What took you so long?" She asked Lin Chung.

"I was busy." He shot back, ducking and letting her handle another bear.

"Would it really have been too hard to just do, oh, I don't know, something?!" She glared at him. Lin Chung shot her a flat look, causing her to laugh as she kicked a bear away. Unfortunately, at that moment, Jumpy and Kowloon got captured. Having no other choice, the duo surrendered their weapons, Yue growling at the bears the whole time.

"Do you guys have any ideas to get out?" Kowloon looked at the squads and the three panthers, who were trapped in another cage. They shook their heads dejectedly, until Yue's eyes widened.

"Lin Chung…" The mentioned turned to her, and she gestured to the side, where there was something preparing for a strike at them. Lin Chung narrowed his eyes, and froze. He turned briefly to Yue.

Encaedulus?

No kidding.

We can't let him see us. It'll blow our cover.

Thank you, Captain Obvious, but, right now, I would focus on the rocket.

Lin Chung muttered something under his breath, causing his hands to light up purple for a second before it fizzled and vanished. "Something's blocking it." He gave a growl, and tried it again. Yue looked on ahead, her voice in the complete opposite direction.

"Lin Chung?" The rocket was coming closer to them, ready to destroy them any second. "Lin!"

"Done!" The rocket was only about an inch from the cages now, and the Panther King and Queen and First and Second Squad closed their eyes tight, ready for the incoming destruction. Around them, the panthers had also shut their eyes tight, not willing to see the death of their king and queen. Whatever the reason, they reappeared on the ground, outside and out of harm's way; Yue grabbed her hunting knives and Lin Chung grabbed his bamboo shooter.

Without looking at each other, they started slashing through the monsters' ranks in sync with one another, as if they had been training together for years.

The group could only stare, wide-eyed, before having little option, joined in the battle as well. They would have to talk with them later.

Halfway through the battle, Panther Queen and Jumpy had gotten themselves held at blade's end by two bears. They were grabbed roughly, and the panthers soon slowly stopped fighting as they realised what had happened. Encaedulus smirked, his eyes scanning the frozen armies as he waved his hand. The bears lumbered over and captured most of the panthers, who refused to struggle, their eyes on their queen, before Encaedulus' eyes narrowed as he froze.

"Lin Chung!" Said male looked at him, his expression giving away nothing. Encaedulus was muttering to himself now. "But then, that means," He looked at Yue. "Yue Long!" He hissed.

"Busted." Yue sang awkwardly, looking at him out of narrowed eyes. Lin Chung was still.

"Get them, you FOOLS!" Encaedulus shrieked at the bears and jaguars, who looked at him in confusion. "BEFORE THEY ESCAPE! NOW!" The squads and panthers were also stunned at the level of hostility he held to them, and looked at each other in bewilderment. The jaguars and polar bears headed forward to capture them, but, as a bear reached out to get them, they both completely froze.

"Yue?" Panther Queen asked uncertainly. They didn't reply, their eyes glazed. The jaguars smirked triumphantly, and reached out to grab them, but then stopped. His hand had gone right through the two!

Encaedulus howled in anger and fury. The others were also looking confused, but they were still relieved their friends were safe. Just then, a figure leapt onto Encaedulus, hunting knife in hand. Yue smirked at his face as he growled.

"I…I surrender." He replied hesitantly, valuing his own life. Lin Chung then stepped out of the shadows, his hands glowing from the purple aura that surrounded them.

Jumpy looked in the direction where the Panther and Magic-user were standing. Even with his long ears, he could barely heat what they were saying. It went a little like this:

"Have you heard...others?"

"No. You...something...to them?"

"...We...mental... We will...when...in trouble."

"...hope...safe. They're in constant danger, and I..."

"...already...us."

"Take...cousin." Jumpy froze in surprise. Cousin? Lin Chung was this Panther's cousin? He continued to eavesdrop.

"You as well, Yue." The Panther smiled at the response, before she whispered something to him. He looked amused as he joined them. Jumpy immediately looked away, pretending not to have noticed their conversation, but he could feel the sharp gaze from Lin Chung's dark eyes.

He gulped nervously, and joined the others as they headed back to Big Green.

AN: First fanfic. Any criticism or comments would be helpful.