Surrounded by Gogmem's river Thay and a thick forest on its north, Tiger Mountain was a natural fortress. One of great beauty; no word has been invented that can describe it. Only birds were lucky enough to witness its full grandeur, however, for only if seen from above could one perceive the abnormality of this mystical place; while its seemed painfully tiring to climb, from above it look like a smooth sculpture on the surface -due to the thick flora that is. Except for the deadly cliff on its eastern side, Tiger Mountain seemed to have been carved specifically for people to climb it; there were natural paths inside the forest, as well as stair-shaped rocks on the highest part. Due to it seeming very steep from a distance, travelers would call it "The place that has seen no sunset", to show it was so tall you could see the sun from up-close if you reached the top. The saying had soon passed into general usage, especially among the citizens of Gogmem -the nearest city to Tiger Mountain.

However, the closest he would get to the top, the more Shen realized the wrong of this traditional saying. During his exile he had seen many mountains, the most of which were much taller than this one, with paths so steep not a soul had ever dared cross. Well, until he came across them. Shen's natural curiosity and stubbornness had brought him to walk these paths, and therefore render this one a piece of cake. But then again, there was the panda. Po was so tired he was literally crawling behind the peacock, which forced Shen to move slowly, as well as have to drag him. As they stumbled upon a rock, the chain binding them was caught around it and Shen landed with his face on the ground. Getting up and dusting off his already filthy robe -it caused him great frustration to see it like this, considering this was the finest silk in the province- Shen glared at Po, his usual dismissive look.

"What?" the panda breathed out. "I've told you I need a stop." The peacock sighed, giving up.

"Alright. We'll stop..." he pointed at a spot some feet away -a natural camp the trees formed, "but up there." Po rolled his eyes but got up on his feet and started walking again. Shen had chosen this spot not only because it looked safe, but also to torment his fellow-traveler a little. Being that close to him for a day and a half was driving the peafowl crazy, yet he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

When they reached the spot, the two travelers allowed themselves a while to rest.

"How do you know it's the right place?" Po asked, his first attempt to start a conversation today. Since last night, when Shen briefly explained to him the voice incident, the two had barely spoken a word, with the exception of the short talk before the stop. The peacock sat on a rock and rubbed his wings together.

"I...There is that saying...no sunset shall rise above it. When I was a chick, I had overheard some travelers say it, then I asked...my father, and he said it was a reference to Tiger Mountain."

Po formed an "ow" with his lips, yet did not reply. Shen referring to his father had caused the panda to feel uncomfortable. Po wondered if Shen had ever felt guilty for taking his parents away. Not a chance, he scared away the thought.

"Shen..." the panda begun, in a moment of weakness. The peacock stopped him, jumping next to him within the blink of an eye, and placing one wing on his lips while performing a "shhh". The two took in their surroundings...the noises of the forest, the crickets slowly starting their nocturnal song... Danger!

Before any of them could react two white tigers had jumped out of the bushes behind them. One kicked Po in the back, sending him flying to the other side of the camp, the other punched Shen on the chest. The peacock left a growl and stepped back in shock and frustration. Po jumped back on his feet and tried to attack them alone. But only one of them was enough to send him back on the ground. Shen attempted to attack as well, but was not luckier than the panda.

"Let's go together," Po yelled, feeling the chain on his leg stretch out.

"Forget it," Shen said, throwing some daggers which the tigers avoided successfully.

"It's the only way!" Po yelled, as one of the white creatures punched him on the face, Po blocked it at the last minute. As a matter of fact, the only way to fight under these circumstances, was to stay close to each other. Otherwise the chain, tightly locked around their legs, would tangle around itself, or on some ground-level obstacle. Such an incident was that knelt Shen to the ground and brought him too close to death in the form of a powerful scratch. He avoided it by chance when the same chain pulled him a little to the side, as Po performed a kick. This meet and greet with demise was enough to make him realize the gravity of their situation. Jumping back on his feet with the speed of light, Shen pulled the chain with both wings, twisting Po around himself and causing his both hands to land forcefully on the one tiger's head. The blow left the enormous fighter unconscious. The panda looked at its own hands, then at the peacock and smiled.

"Now that was some serious awesomeness!" Shen raised a brow, then watched as the other tiger jumped back into the bushes.

"Guess your fat arms scared it away," the fowl commented. Po gave him a hurtful look.

"Why do you always have to be so mean? Don't you hate it when people hate you?..."

"Panda..." Shen merely whispered, his back facing the panda as he stared at what was a horrifying spectacle.

"How can you even stand the remorse? Cause I know you have some, everybody has..."

"Po!" the peacock yelled in panic.

"What!" Shen's wing pointed ahead of them at the path climbing the mountain. Uncountable torches were lit, fire lighting the furious faces of various felines, including the white tiger that had escaped. "Uh oh..." the panda gulped noisily. He was left dazzled for a moment, staring at the countless enemies, then noticed Shen scratching the chain around his leg.

"Don't just stand there! Help me take it off!" the former Lord yelled in frustration. There was something more to the way he spoke, Po recognized it as despair.

"Why would I do that?" the chubby Warrior crossed his arms around his torso.

"To save your life, you fool," Shen drew out a dagger and started sawing the chain off.

"Oh come on now, Shen," Po breathed out. "We can do this. You saw what you did back there? THAT was awesomeness! And THAT'S what will get us up on that mountain! Now let's go!" Po bolted, jumping up, yet landed on the ground when Shen didn't move behind him. Maybe he was lighter, but Shen was adequately strong and most of all faster than him.

"I don't know about you, chubby potato-head, but I'm going home," he said, his voice kind of disappointed. Shen got up on his feet and turned around, preparing to leave. "And I'll drag you with me if I have to," he lifted the chain with both wings and started pulling. It was strong enough a tug to make Po lose his balance, but couldn't move him.

"Shen, I know you don't care but people are going to die if we don't climb up this mountain. And I do care. I'm not going back empty-handed."

The peacock took a fighting position. "Then I'll force you to," with that he attacked the panda, who avoided and blocked his blows, but did not return them as Shen expected.

"Shen," Po spoke as they swirled and jumped, the peacock attacking and the panda blocking, "If we work together we can make it..."

"You..." Shen jumped back and stopped out of breath, "you...really think you're some kind of a god, who can forget and forgive anything? I know what you're doing...you're pretending..."

"I'm not Shen," Po heaved in front of him. "I don't hate you." Shen was left speechless.

"You...that's impossible. I took away your parents...I scarred you for life..."

"And you made me who I am." Po said, extending a paw for the peacock to catch and get lifted up. "So I want to thank you, instead."

"Impossible," Shen kept whispering. He was ready to charge at him again, when he heard it; a bird's cry. Come at me Shen... Upon his being called, Shen hesitantly placed his wing on top of Po's open paw and allowed himself to be helped on his feet. With a battle cry, they both jumped at the army in front of them.

Princess Fei awoke in an icky cell she recognized as part of the palace's dungeon. Her wings were handcuffed, while her legs were free to move -much to her delight. She turned her head around and looked at her torn robe. This was her favorite one.

"Might as well sew it..." When this is all over. She mumbled to herself. If it ever ends.

"You're finally up." The peahen jumped in shock, then relaxed herself when Viper crept a little crosser to her. The tip of her tail had been put inside a huge metal ball, that seemed very heavy to drag around, in order to restrain her moves. "We were worried you might never wake," Mantis spoke out of his smaller cell inside the cell. The peahen looked around and saw the rest of the Furious Five, all tied up and with huge frowns upon their faces. On the opposite cell were placed Masters Croc and Ox, while Master Rhino was locked in the special cell -one with no bars, therefore no contact with the other prisoners.

"Oh gods..." the Princess whispered.

"The gods won't help you," Master Ox complained as always, "they've got their own problems."

The peahen retired to her corner and buried her head below one wing, sobbing.

"You're lucky. You didn't get your feet tied up," monkey said, lifting its chained feet for the others to see.

"They probably know how useless a Kung Fu fighter you are," Master Ox continued, ignoring the crying fowl. Princess Fei skipped the insult, processing a new plot in her mind.

"What about Crane?"

"Here," Crane moved slightly in the shadows and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Quick, show me how to kick!" The Princess jumped up energetically. The Masters burst into laughter.

"You can't be taught Kung Fu just like that..." Master Croc said.

"It takes years of training to perfect it."

"Whatever just show me!" Princess Fei insisted. Master Ox rolled his eyes, but Croc welcomed the opportunity.

"Lift your leg halfway up in the air, so that you form an arrow. Imagine you are this arrow," Princess Fei focused and followed his instructions. Crane positioned the chains around his wings in front of her. "Now extend your leg...forcefully...put all your chi in it..." Princess Fei stopped halfway in the air.

"What's a chi?"

"Um..it's...never mind, just do it!Focus on the target...it's only you and it..."

Princess Fei did as told, but the outcome was to injure her leg, while the chains remained in place.

"Aw..." she breathed out.

"Not in a million years," Tigress mumbled from behind her. The peahen lowered her head, rubbing her leg with a wing, while tears formed on the corners of her eyes. She had gone through all that trouble for nothing, only to be betrayed by the one she trusted the most. Actually this was more than betrayal it was...he was always there. From her birth to this moment, Yenn had been watching her in the form of Counselor. And worse, he had been affecting her choices at great extend.

"Imagine it's someone you hate," this time it was Master Ox, hanging himself on the cell's bars. Master Croc was ready to speak up and correct him, but was silenced by the ox's discouraging glare. The peahen got on her feet again, then stared at the handcuffs. Yes, Counselor had been a lie. It wasn't him she should blame, for he never existed. Counselor was a puppet, a costume, for Yenn to access her, to influence her...The handcuffs took the shape of the short dragon. Before Crane could back away, he was thrown to the other side of the room, and his wings were free once again. Princess Fei panted in shock, unable to believe what she had just done.

"My wings! I'm free!" Crane yelled.

"Shhh!" Viper signaled, "They might hear you!" Princess Fei, who had come back to reality, shared a look with Master Ox, who gave her an encouraging nod.

"Crane," the peahen addressed him, "On the top of this cell there's a handle, can you see it?" The bird looked up then back at her and nodded. "Grab this with your leg and pull. The door is wooden and old. Breaking it will be easy."

Crane did as told and the passage was open.

"Now find Po and Shen! I don't know where they are, but you must bring Po back, for only he can defend Gogmem. Before you leave, head for my quarters -in the east side of the tower, fifth floor. There you will find a large key. It's the only way to separate them, they are chained together. Now hurry!"

"And be careful!" Mantis yelled as the bird stormed out of the cell. The others were left waiting in agony.