Me: Yeah. Stuff happened. But, I'm back. With some help. Say hello to My friend, Vunderguy!

Vunderguy: Must. Destroy. Warhammer 40K. Must. Destroy. Warhammer 40K. Must. Destroy Imperium of Man. Either. In. Fan. Fic. Or. Original. Fiction. But. First. Must. Help. Long. Time. Dear. Friend. With. Softer. Lighter. Funnier. Ultimately. More. Meaningful. Work. Of Writing.

Diablo: I liked this guy. Until he mentioned fanfiction… Also, where do you get "More meaningful" from, por favor?

Vunderguy: People. Will. Remember. The Softer. Lighter. Funnier. Things. More. Years. From. Now. Than. Filth. Like. Warhammer 40K. Already. People. On. Street. On. . Can. Tell. You. What. Kung. Fu. Panda. Is. But. Not. Gamesworkshop's. Folly. Limey. Marmite. Guzzlers.

Iron Man: And you're speaking more broken than my Hulkbuster up against the ol' Unjolly Green Giant himself like that because...?

Vunderguy: … … … I. Like. Starships. With. DAH POWAH!

Me: Hmmm... DB would really like you.

Diablo: I knew there was a reason I didn't like him.

Me: Be nice. He's my friend. Plus, I could eliminate you with a single thought, seeing as you are my creation. But, it's time to start the story.

Vunderguy: Afterwards. You. Help. I. Destroy. Warhammer 40K?

Me: But of course. You are my friend. Blood for the Blood-errr… wait…

Iron Man: Plus, Diablo, now we can finally see what DB might know.

Diablo: Seriously? Idiota! He still ha-*he is hit by a shoe*

Me: No spoilers! Enjoy.

The next day, a very bandaged DB, along with the other residents of the Jade Palace and Informant were outside the building with the training course just after breakfast. DB and Tigress were standing apart from the rest of the group, facing each other in ready stances, and DB whimpered slightly.

Informant called from the sidelines, "Don't worry, she won't kill you. She might hurt you, but not kill."

DB muttered under his breath, "That's what I'm afraid of." He gulped as he stared at the expressionless face of Tigress.

Shifu snapped his fingers and Tigress charged at DB. His eyes widened. Without a single thought, he sidestepped her strike and threw an elbow into her chest. He articulated his surprise at managing this with a, "Wha?"

He just registered Tigress throwing another punch in time to duck, but she quickly lowered to trip him. She then threw a strike towards his head. He was able to roll away and to his feet in time for Tigress to strike the ground, cracking it. He turned to Informant and yelled, "I thought you said she wouldn't try to kill me!?" This, however, gave Tigress the opportunity to strike him from behind with enough force to send him to the feet of those watching.

Informant looked down and emotionlessly replied, "No. I said she wouldn't kill you. Way I see it, try don't have nothin' to do with it. Viper. You're next."

"I don't get a break!?"

Informant shook his head with a small smirk adorning his face.

DB groaned as he walked back to where he had stood before and faced Viper.

"Viper, only hold back enough that you won't kill him," Shifu said.

Viper nodded.

Shifu snapped his fingers again.

Viper lunged at DB, who ducked under her. She quickly spun around and sent her tail out like a whip, which DB, again, dodged.

"How am I doing this!?" He then caught her next strike, though that victory was short-lived, as Viper quickly coiled around his arms and got him to hit himself. She then quickly detached from DB and leapt behind him, delivering a whip with her tail, sending him down to the ground, and thus, ending her match with him about as quickly as Tigress had. She then left to rejoin the group.

"Ow." DB slowly stood and turned to see Mantis ready for his turn. "Oh come on!"

Shifu snapped his fingers and Mantis leapt at DB, but he blocked with his hand, though Mantis still hit him hard enough to send him sliding... and cause him to start shaking his hand from the pain. "Oh sweet mother of a monkey in the tango that hurt!"

His exclamation was enough to stop Mantis from charging and even gave Informant pause as he blinked and remarked, "Well... that's a new one."

DB stopped shaking his hand and turned back to his opponent and got ready for the next strike. This was enough to break Mantis from his stupor. He charged again. DB prepared, only to lose sight of Mantis. DB began looking around for him, rather nervously, until, with all the warning of a lightning bolt, Mantis began throwing him around like a rag doll and striking him from multiple angles multiple times per second before giving him a kick to his starting position, except this time, he was eating dirt instead of standing.

DB, while spitting out earthy tasting… earth... looked up from the ground to see Monkey ready for his turn. "Please give me a break," was his stalwart, galant battlecry, though it sounded more like a pitiful whimper.

"As soon as you have faced him and Crane," said Shifu, voice even but stern.

DB slowly stood. Pain, clear as day, was in his expression. He assumed his stance, wobbly as it was. Shifu snapped his fingers. Monkey charged. He threw a kick and a punch, both of which DB dodged before throwing his own strike, which sent Monkey skidding. Monkey charged again, this time getting onto his tail and using all four of his limbs. DB blocked the first three strikes with some difficulty, but the fourth caught him off guard, putting him on his back. "I'm starting to enjoy the ground." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Might make it my new bed at this point. And maybe put it six feet under."

Informant called from the sidelines, "You ain't that close to death yet. Get up, ya lazy bum and show me some speed! Demon speed! Speed's what we need! We need! Greasy! Fast! Speed!"

Resisting the urge to retort (and vomit, both from what Informant had said and the licking he had taken), DB slowly stood and saw Crane at the ready. With a groan, he too dropped into a ready position. As with the last four times, when Shifu snapped his fingers, Crane charged forward. DB sidestepped the first strike and tried a kick... that was as easily blocked as a baby rhino trying to do the same to its father. Crane leapt back, then lunged with a kick that hit DB in the chin and sent him back off his feet a ways before his soles touched down upon the earth again. Quickly regaining his balance and stance, DB actually managed to duck under the next strike, but was left vulnerable to another swift and herculean kick that got him in the chest with enough power to make him bend over with impact alone and not merely out of pained instinct. Crane then leapt forward and up and delivered a kick down and to his back, sending DB into a face plant, the ensuing crater big enough to drop a watermelon down into from top to bottom and NOT on its sides.

DB then lifted his head and deadpanned towards Informant. "Okay. I was beat by all of them. You happy!?" DB blinked. "Wait… I remember something."

"What?"

"I remember… making a sword."

Informant nodded. "Yeah. You've shown it to me. Pretty solid craftsmanship. Also isn't the only thing you've made. Too bad you didn't remember anything useful."

DB nodded as he stood up. "Yeah, but hey. Something's better than nothing."

"True, but, I think the bigger consolation prize here is that you seem to possess muscle memory… and quite a bit of it, if I do say so myself. I'm just curious about how, but it is not important for the time being."

DB cocked his head and furrowed his brow, which brought a sigh from Informant.

"You know how you were able to block without thinking about it?"

DB nodded, though still confused.

"Your body still remembers how you trained it, including reactions to incoming attacks."

DB gave a single nod and asked, "Okay... and that means what, exactly? How's that gonna help me in a scrap?"

Informant replied, "Basically, you need to keep from thinking about the fight to do good in said fight."

DB nodded again. "So, in other words... I need to forget that someone is trying to kill me? What? Am I supposed to think about flowers and sunshine and pastel ponies while someone is actively trying to cleave away my head from my body? Sure, that sounds amazingly easy to do, doesn't it? Just forget a person is trying to send me the way of the dinosaurs, disco, and dubstep (hopefully) and think happy thoughts!" DB then gave Informant a deadpan look. "Just how exactly is this useful!?"

Informant sighed and closed his eyes as he put his hands behind his back and began to pace in front of DB. "You see, with muscle memory, and your trained senses, you should be able to at least face a moderate level opponent with relative ease, so long as you keep yourself calm and just let your limbs do the thinking. It isn't an easy task, but, when you remember you have fought much stronger opponents than the one you are facing, it should become easier."

DB gave a blank stare towards Informant. "I was knocked out cold in a fight. If I truly was as good as you seem to think I was before my mind was wiped cleaner than Po's plate after dumpling night-"

"Hey!"

"-then how, in the name of all that is Kung Fu Fighting, did that happen?"

Informant sighed and stopped his pacing as he turned towards DB. "Because you were too busy concentrating on your friends to notice someone sneaking up behind you until warned, and as you turned into the strike to your noggin, you were hit with the force of a stampeding elephant to boot. Honestly, it was because you care too much. Usually not a bad thing except when it is. But enough of how exactly you came to be as helpless as a silkworm larva. This is about you and, more importantly, being helpful to us in any upcoming fight where we may need you."

DB sighed and nodded. "Alright. So, assuming I was-am-as good as you say, how are we going to get me to forget the maniac trying to make me lose my head in a very literal, horrible, and painful way?"

Informant smirked. "Simple. By fighting."

DB groaned and fell backwards. He then began hitting the ground with the backs of his fists like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum after being told they couldn't go outside.

"Oh quit with the waterworks, will you? Besides: repetition is one of the best teachers, after all." He then offered DB a hand. "Plus, I promise I'll go easier on you than they did."

DB grabbed it and stood with Informant's help.

Informant then threw an unexpected punch, which DB grabbed, then twisted Informant's arm. DB blinked at what he had done. This hesitation gave Informant the opening to turn it on him and used the position to flip DB on his head and onto the ground. "Not bad."

"I thought you said you would go easier on me?"

"Yeah. I said it, and I did." His smirk and tone spoke volumes about his enjoyment in this. "Besides, when I first became a ninja, you pulled a similar stunt on me." He offered his hand again. "But... let's make this a real fight."

He pulled DB up again and they both went to their respective sides. But, before Shifu could snap his fingers, DB turned his head and pointed in the distance at a tiny black dot. "What's that?"

All activity stopped as they turned their respective gazes at said dot.

Shifu quickly pointed at Crane. "Go. See what it is. And report back. Quickly."

Crane nodded and took off like a rocket.

DB raised his hand and asked, "Should someone go alert the Wu sisters? Just in case it's a powerful enemy that could easily defeat us? And can arrive faster than Crane?"

Informant shook his head. "If it is, I've got a trick to get to them and get them here." DB shrugged as they all waited with baited breath until Crane returned.

When he did, he came back hightailing it like he had just seen a dragon, feet skidding on the ground as he landed and almost didn't stop in time before he collided with his master. He took a second to catch his breath before reporting, "It isn't an attack. It's a visitor from the emperor!"

Everyone, minus DB, who gave a confused stare to the others, gasped at the news. With much confusion, he said, "Um… Le gasp? What's the big deal? It's not like anyone is a criminal, is it?"

Informant coughed awkwardly. He then replied, "It's just… we don't get a visitor from someone so high up without warning-er-greater warning. Yeah."

Shifu nodded. "Yes. We should go and meet them at the entrance to the Hall of Warriors."

DB asked, "Should someone get the Wu sisters?"

Informant shook his head. "If anything, we need to make sure they aren't seen. They aren't exactly the emperor's most favorite trio."

"Why?"

"Not important. We'll explain later. I'll go make sure they aren't seen. Rest of you: go."

They all nodded and went off to their respective destinations.

HALL OF WARRIORS-ENTRANCE

The group of warriors arrived at about the time an eagle and wolf arrived. Everyone gave them a respectful bow (though DB's was a little late) as Shifu said, "Greetings, Xi Xong and Yīng Zhao. It is a surprise to see you here without prior notice. We would have prepared the palace better for you."

Xi Xong stoically replied, "I am sure it is more than well enough, knowing your standards." He turned his attention to DB. "And who is this small wolf?"

DB replied, "Well, actually, they say I'm a coyote and that my name is DB, but I don't know for sure since it's really just initials and I lost my memory. How's it goin'?" He stuck out his hand with a smile.

Xi Xong merely looked at his hand with disinterest. "I will give you a pass, seeing as you lost your memory. But, unless you're specifically asked a question, you do not speak, and if you are so asked, you only answer. Is that clear?"

DB raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's a dumb rule." He was promptly rewarded with a smack from Shifu's staff. "OW! I mean… yes! Yes sir! Sir yes sir! Despite how unreasonable it may seem!" He was given another smack and a glare from Shifu. "OW! Geez... someone really needs to hide that thing from you!"

"You must excuse him. He's had a hard time lately and is usually even more outspoken."

Xi Xong nodded. "Noted. Anyways, his highness sent me to thank you for your hard work and dedication to protecting China, and has seen fit to bestow gifts upon you."

DB opened his mouth, but quickly clamped it shut at Shifu's glare. Shifu turned his attention back to Xi Xong and said, "While such an act is truly appreciated, it is also unnecessary. We do not do it for the reward."

Xi Xong nodded and replied, "Yes, but it has been long since you have received recognition for your work and the emperor thought it was appropriate."

Shifu gave a smile. "Give him our thanks. Would you like a tour of the Jade Palace?"

"That would be wonderful."

As the group walked off, DB grabbed Tigress's shoulder and whispered, "What's with the whole regulation of only speaking when spoken to? I feel like a child."

Tigress whispered back, "It is a rule of respect. Because of Shifu's rank above us, he speaks for us, unless we are specifically asked a question, or Shifu gives us the right to answer for ourselves. That is also why Xi Xong is the one speaking, instead of Ying Zhao. He outranks him in the emperor's palace."

"It's still a dumb rule." He then shrugged. "Oh well. Let's catch up with them." The two quickly made it back to the others before being left behind.

SUNSET-JADE PALACE- ENTRANCE

The group was standing with Xi Xong and Ying Zhao preparing to leave. Informant had joined the group and received the same treatment as DB, after speaking when he wasn't supposed to.

Shifu said, "I am sorry for the disrespect shown by the two newest people here. But, as you know, they are not used to such customs."

Xi Xong nodded and replied, "Yes. When one of us from the emperor return, I do expect better respect given from them."

"I will make sure of it. And again, we thank the emperor for his generosity and you for your presence." Shifu and the others gave bows after he finished.

Xi Xong and Ying Zhao bowed in return as Xi Xong replied, "I will be sure to tell him. Thank you for your tour. Come Ying Zhao." Xi Xong hopped onto Ying Zhao's back, who then took off. Xi Xong muttered under his breath, "Good riddance. Those two were unbearable."

Once they were far enough away, DB huffed and said, "Good riddance. That Xi Xong was unbearable."

Shifu sighed and responded, "While I can see such a person being unbearable to you, there are customs which must be followed."

"Don't mean we gotta like 'em, huh, Informant?"

Informant nodded and responded absentmindedly, "Yeah."

DB looked towards him with an eyebrow raised and took note of his thoughtful expression. "What're ya thinking about?"

Informant sighed and replied, "They weren't here for just a pleasantry visit to give us presents. They were looking for something. Their eyes were darting back and forth and they took longer looks at things than if they were just visiting." Everyone looked uneasily amongst one another at this proclamation. "We're probably gonna run into trouble sooner, rather than later. How long does it take to get here from… where did they come from?"

Shifu replied, "The Imperial City. It would take them a little under half a week with the speed they were flying. For any sizable force to get here, it would take two weeks."

Informant nodded. "So, we have about two and a half weeks to prepare."

Po questioned, "Prepare for what?"

Informant's reply left a very foreboding feeling in the air. "Anything."

Me: Oooo...Spooky ending!

Diablo: Si. So spooky. Can I go now?

Me: After the outro. I must say, it is much easier to write this with a partner. And much more fun!

Vunderguy: Now. You. See. Why. I. Require. You. So. Much. For. My. Epic. Sonic. Fanfic. I'm. Developing. Inbetween. Trying. To. Ascertain. A. Way. To. Crush. Warhammer 40K.

Me: Yes. I was reluctant to ask for help, as I'm used to writing by myself. But, I guess trying to reboot my stories was more work than I thought it would be.

Diablo: Si, You learned you are incapable of writing a decent story without the help of an even more imbecilic moron.

Me: Okay. You keep that up, I'm turnin' you into a female and making sure you get the proper punishment.

Diablo: Please. You're not evil.

Vunderguy: I. Too. Fear. Sudden. Gender. Bending.

Me: Oh, I can be quite evil, Diablo, I assure you… and you would prefer if you didn't make me show you. Personally. *Diablo wilts under my glare* But, that's another story for another time.

Iron Man: I think I'd want to read that story. An author turned evil by his own creation. I think that would sell millions. And trust me. I know. *Puts on shades unexpectedly* And knowing is half the battle. YEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

Me: Heh. I love that reference…

Vunderguy: Meme. Overused.

Me: No it's not! But, anyways, things are getting bumpy. How will our wonderful heroes survive this?

Diablo: Please. You're the author. You already have it planned. Now, will it take you a year to get out the next chapter?

Me: Hopefully not. 'Specially since I have Vundey here to help.

Vunderguy: Must. Destroy. Warhammer 40K. But. First. Tomorrow. Must. Seek. Help. For. Epic. Sonic. Fanfic.

Me: … Even if he is a bit infatuated with destroying Warhammer 40K. But, we will see you all in the next epic chapter of… well… Another Chapter. The Rewritten version!

Diablo: Great. Now I can go. And any readers that still have brain cells after reading this much garbage should do the same.

Me: Just remember the writer of this garbage created you. So what does that make you?

Vundergirl: A. Very. Brief. Cameo.

Diablo: The only gem you could ever create. *crickets are heard after his statement* Very funny. Bye.