"Just a little past noon. Perfect time for lunch!" Mr. Ping was busy in the kitchen, no longer cooking for profit, but cooking for the surviving guests. Po and Tigress had returned from their chat and had taken a seat.

Shifu, however, was in a different situation. Being bombarded with questions by Li Shan and, previously, Mr. Ping. They wanted to know what had happened. Why was Tigress breathing heavy? Why were her clothes torn? Why was Po more down than usual? Why did it look like the three hadn't slept in a day or two?

Shifu rested his hand on the table. He knew the game the panda was playing. It wasn't exactly the easiest topic to bring up. The red panda shifted his eyes to Po and Tigress, Lei Lei and Bao with them. A small smile graced his lips and he turned back to Li, a serious expression had taken refuge. "Let us cut out the small talk. We're adults and we'll treat it as such."

Li had been spitting questions out left and right, they may have been important, but it wasn't the question tainting his mind. "How?"

Shifu guessed that he was sticking to short bits of what he wanted to say. There were kids around after all. "Chi dragon."

"Where?"

"Spirit realm."

"Kai?"

"Kai."

Li sighed. "Is there anything we can do?"

Shifu nodded. "Yes, we have . . . convinced, and I use that term loosely, the Dragon Warrior to take some chi, even if only from me at the time being."

Li tapped the table thoughtfully. "So, did you give any?"

Shifu nodded towards the panda and tiger pair. "To both of them, yes."

Li didn't stop to tap his fingers. They became faster with nervousness. "Why?"

Shifu frowned. They had moved topic to something more personal. Why did he keep it a secret? Li seemed to know that he had kept part of his reasoning hidden. "I told you back up at the palace." He paused, seeing Li's expression stay the same. No hint of anger or recognition. "I'm just trying to be a good father. Don't tell Po I said this, but emphasis on trying."

"Standing to the side is being a good father?"

"I'm not standing to the side. I'm just respecting distance. Boundaries. I failed once to solidify a relationship. My leg and heart paid for it."

Li looked off the side, at Po. "So, he's not taking the loss very well, is he?"

Shifu shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I'm surprised they haven't been separated yet. With Po's fear and Tigress's anger."

"Hey Dads! Shifu!" Shifu and Li turned to Po and TIgress as they stood up. "We're going for a walk, can you take care of Lei Lei and Bao until we get back?"

Li took the initiative. "Yeah, son! No problem. Right Ping? Shifu?" Mr. Ping gave a distant shout of affirmation and Shifu gave a slight nod.

"Woah, where are all the wolves?"

"Po, focus."

"Right, sorry."

Tigress's ear twitched for the sixth time. "Someone is here." She looked around, worry damaging her features. The same gut wrenching feeling she was so unaccustomed to returned. Her chi turned left and right, threatening to burst inside her. "He's here."

"Who?"

Tigress glared at Po; although, her look was more fear than anger. Po nodded and the two stepped forward, scanning the streets and roofs.

Po was getting tired of looking. He loosened his shoulder and started bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Hey, Tai-lung! We know you're there!" His voice echoed through the village. The two waited before Po shrugged. "Guess he's a no-show."

"It's getting stronger." Po looked over to Tigress, she was getting more and more anxious.

"Only cause the distance has closed." Po, startled, and Tigress, scowling, looked up onto one of the nearby roofs. "Hello, Po."

"Sup, when did you learn my name?"

Tai-lung shrugged. "Not important."

"Yeah! We have a rematch to commence!" Po pointed at Tai-lung. "Buddy, you may have mastered all the scrolls, but— ah, well . . . okay— I got nothing." Po entered an offensive stance. "Regardless! Let's do this!"

"Gladly, Panda." Tai-lung jumped into the air and dove straight down at Po and Tigress.

"Po, move!"

"On it!" Po and Tigress dove out of the way as Tai-lung landed where they once stood. The ground fragmented and shards of earth shot into the air. Po rushed forward.

Tai-lung stood to his feet and faced the panda, blocking a strike and delivering one of his own, causing Po to take a step back. He ran forward and and kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to slid back and hold his gut. "Not too easy, now is it? I've been in the spirit realm for half a decade." He started walking forward. "I will not be so easily defeated twice."

"No!" Tai-lung glared at the Panda, having shout out at him. His look loosened once he realized that the panda wasn't even looking at him. "Don't." Tai-lung turned to see Tigress, with her claws outstretched and her sharp fangs bared. "Please, Tigress."

"Are you that much of a fool?! The more warriors you have, the better chance you stand! Why do you think we took out the others first?!"

Po's face contorted into something Tai-lung had never seen on the panda. The expression of rage was not something that fit his foe, more something that fit him or his sister. The panda roared and rushed forward, driving a fist forward. Tai-lung countered with his own strike, the two retracted their hands. Po shook his hand lightly while Tai-lung didn't seem phased.

Tai-lung punched forward and Po grabbed his arm, he pulled and flipping him over. The snow leopard turned in midair and landed on his feet. He roared and rushed the panda.

Tigress watched as the two fought. Po's reminder solidifying her to her promise to the panda. She unsheathed her claws and closed her jaw, was there nothing she could do? She watched as the two fought, Po was at a disadvantage. Whatever training Tai-lung did put him over the panda. A growl was building up in the back of her throat.

Shifu flashed into her mind. He could help Po with this battle. Sadly, though, she came to this realization too late. A strong force smashed into her side and she flew down the street, out of Po's possible view. She rolled on the ground, dust forming in her she stopped, her body cried out in agony, still not completely healed from Shen's attack. She heard a slow maniacal chuckle accompanied by the sound of chains and rock against stone. She could recognize it from anywhere.

She practically sprang to her feat and her pupils dilated. "No."

The yak continued to stroll forward, his face dressed in a smirk. "Nice." He stopped his advance, but continued to swing his jade swords, Tigress's eyes fixated on their circular motion for a minute before glaring at him. "I'm actually quite glad Shen failed to kill you. I can take your chi, now."

Tigress unsheathed her claws and growled, causing Kai to laugh. "What did I tell you people?! Seriously!" She snapped her fangs at him and her paws glowed a light yellow. "Oh, are all of you chi masters, now? Really?" He yanked the chains and caught the two swords in his hands. "Because it won't save you. It didn't save the bug or ape. No, you will suffer the same fate as them, the panda won't save you this time." Kai started to spin his swords, their velocity increasing rapidly. "Your chi will be mine!" He thrust his arms forward, causing his sword to be thrown forward.

Tigress jumped over the blades as they smashed into the ground. She could hear how easily they sliced through the ground, splintering rock. Once on the ground she dropped onto all fours and sprinted for Kai. She didn't know how he survived, but she wouldn't let him take her chi and attack Po. She leaped forward, palm outstretched, as she punched at Kai.

Kai would have blocked, would have. Unfortunately for the yak, the tiger had chi manipulation on her side. He yanked his on his chains, releasing his swords from the ground, and side stepped the stripped warrior. Moving quickly, he grabbed the back of her neck and simultaneously squeezed and lifted, choking her and lifting her into the air. "Easy."

Oh, how he would eat those words.

Kai recoiled once he felt the chi-infested paw slam into chest."What was that, little calf?"

Oh, how she would eat those words.

"Ow!" Po was not having the best time. His anger-filled strength had worn off and he was now fighting with a snow leopard whose one wish was to see him die. He put up and arm to block, only to get punched just below his block, directly into his stomach. He took a step back and blocked his stomach, Tai-lung smashed his fist into his face. Man, was he tired— and bruised. Po couldn't forget the bruising.

Fortunately, at least for the moment, he would get a breather in the form of his master. Oogway's old staff came flying from the left to smack Tai-lung in the chest. Shifu appeared in a flash in front of Po, effectually blocking Tai-lung. "Po?" His tone was stern and demanding.

"Y— yeah?" Po wasn't sure if he stuttered from pain or fear. His shoulders sunk. Nope, he knew which one it was. Fear, definitely fear.

"Where's Tigress?"

Po was suddenly aware that Tigress was gone, no longer a bystander. "Uh . . ."

"Po?"

"Yes, master."

"Go, find my daughter. I will hold off Tai-lung."

Po nodded and sprinted off, his ears picking up the new fight of father and son, a really angry son. And also that other one. He heard Tigress yell out, she was on the offensive. He focused on picking up his pace and looked down around the corner. Before his eyes could widen, he was smashed into a building, a figure of brick muscle being the projectile. Oh, how that hurt.

"Hey, Tigress." Po tried to keep the whining out of his voice. He settled on a groan. "What's going on?"

"Po." Tigress stood up, obviously less phased than Po. "We have a huge problem."

Po looked forward to see Kai marching towards them. Denial? Suprise? Fear? "Oh, that is a problem. Wait! This means we can get the others back!" He leapt to his feet. "It's not over!"

Kai dropped onto all fours and charged the two. Po's eyes widened. "Wait, how are we—" Kai slammed into the two, sending the two in opposite directions. Po rolled to his feet, realization sweeping across his features. He looked past the yak and tiger, spotting Shifu and Tai-lung. "Tigress! Help Shifu!" Get out of here.

Po shrugged off the glare the tiger was giving him. "Just go! We need Shifu if we are going to beat Kai!" You're safer fighting Tai-lung than Kai.

Po eyed Kai as he walked towards him. "So, this is your plan? To fight me alone?" HIs eyes glowed a light green, searching Po's chi.

Po immediately recognized what he was doing. It made him uncomfortable. "Hey!"

Kai frowned. "Why is your chi so . . . weak?"

"Oh— uh— I don't know what you mean. What are you talking about?"

Kai snorted and charged, throwing his swords ahead of him. Po jumped backwards as the swords smashed into where he was just standing. He was thrown backwards, smashing into the wall of the house behind him. Po looked up and Kai was in front of him in a flash, grabbing him by the neck.

Po wasn't sure exactly what shattered as he was slammed into the ground. The ground shattered under his weight and he felt Kai let him go. "Now, that was easy." Po placed his elbows under him and tried to push himself up. Kai's hoof smashed him back into the ground. "Seriously? LIsten, you're broken. You've lost the majority of your friends and you lost your palace." He grabbed Oogway's amulet. "You chi will be mine soon enough." He let go of the amulet and plucked a few pendants off his chain belt. "There is even more for you to lose." He brought in the amulets close to his face. "Draw the red panda away."

Tigress slid back, almost tripping over her own feet. She growled lightly and charged the snow leopard. She attacked in conjunction with Shifu. Her punch and his kick. Tai-lung blocked her attack with his arm and kicked Shifu away. He grabbed her arm and threw her aside. Tigress rolled to her feet and charged again, throwing a series of punches. Tai-lung dodged the first one, shifting out of the way, and countered or blocked the rest. "You think you can achieve victory?" He uppercut her and punched her in the stomach. "It's not your destiny!" He kicked her in the chest, knocking her to the ground. He growled and turned to Shifu who had lunged at him.

Shifu tucked in one of his legs and outstretched the other, Oogway's staff still tightly in his hold. Tai-lung jumped at the red panda, his claws outstretched. The two neared each other he yelled as he struck downwards.

Tigress watched as Shifu smashed into the ground and skid away from Tai-lung, Oogway's staff now out of his reach and at the snow leopards feet. She was at Shifu's side as fast she could make it. "Shifu?" He looked up at her, pain written across his features. "Your leg."

Shifu winced as he moved to a standing position. "I've failed . . . again." He was leaning off of his now injured left leg. "I'm sorry."

"Shifu . . . " She was suddenly pushed out of the way.

"Look out!" Shifu let out a shout of pain as the jaded Monkey slammed into him, knocking him over. His injured leg was grabbed and Monkey started dragging him away, further into the village. The jaded Crane flew above and flapped his wings, sending a gust of wind at Tigress, knocking her off her feet. The jaded forms of Mantis and Viper rushed forward at Shifu, with jade Crane on their tails.

Shifu kicked Monkey off of him and flipped onto his feet, cringing in pain. He shook his head at Tigress as she stood up. "I'll distract them. Find Po and get out of here! Do whatever it takes!" He shielded himself as he was hit by the jaded form of Mantis, getting knocked out of her sight and followed by the four jaded students.

Tigress clenched her paws and turned to Tai-lung. He was smirking and then he pointed to her right. She didn't look, intent to keep him in her sights while listening for Po. She felt a heavy weight smash into her sides, pain erupting from her ribs.

She staggered before catching her footing and looked to see Po on the ground, beaten and broken. "I'm so sorry." He said hoarsely as Tigress grabbed him by the shoulders and hosted him to his feet, allowing him to lean against her. "This— this is all my fault. If I had just told you— trusted you— from the get-go, then we wouldn't be here in this mess. I'm sorry."

"Po—"

"That's it?" She turned to Kai as he walked towards them. He chuckled. "Your last words? 'I'm sorry'?"

They were both injured. Scarred, bruised, they had broken bones. It scarred her to admit, but they wouldn't survive this. "It's not something we could avoid. We're not going to make it, Po. Not with Kai and Tai-lung."

"No . . . I can't— I won't lose you."

"No choice, Dragon Warrior." Tigress had learned so their heads were positioned so their muzzles touched; yet, she could still see the snow leopard and yak. "We were doomed from the start." She closed her eyes. "How about we make this one last?" She waited until Po grabbed her arm, a signal that he was ready.

Tigress moved and initiated their intimate interaction. Their supposedly last kiss. She allowed herself to melt into it. After this, she would be ready to face Kai for the last time. Tigress didn't even stop her tail from swooshing back and forth as her ears flattened against her head.

Kai had one thought running through his mind, or rather a memory flashing across his mind. Oogway had once said, 'We were doomed from the start.'. Kai's eyes were wide and his mouth slightly agape. This whole situation reminded him too much of Oogway and what they used to be. He gripped his jade swords and resisted the urge to grab the jade amulet around his neck.

By now the panda and tiger had pulled apart and were leaning their foreheads together. Kai, knocked out of his recent burst of emotion and memories, scowled at them. "Last words?"

Po quickly hugged Tigress. "Don't worry, Ti. My last words will be worthy of the title." He locked his hands together behind Tigress's back. "You ready?"

He felt her nod. To be honest, he wasn't feeling ready himself, but he knew he couldn't hesitate. He forced his hands apart slightly, gripping his index finger with two fingers from his other paw. He lifted his pinky, his last phrase thrown across his mind into the situation at play. "Skadoosh."