Chapter 20

Gongmen City…prison

Thundering Rhino stood before his two fellow—former—masters as they stood behind the iron clad bars.

"What do you want Rhino" Storming Ox commanded, "why aren't you with that scum sucking toad Shen?"

"I came to talk with you," Rhino said, his voice and gaze hung low.

"Well you can forget whatever you have to say," Master Croc snapped, "we already told that monster we would never join him."

"I know," Rhino said, looking away, "and believe me I would like to stand by your side in this matter, but I must see to the needs of Gongmen City."

"Damn it Rhino," Ox snapped slamming his fist against the bars. "The way things are going there won't be much a city left. We saw what happened to the palace. Don't tell me you're blind to what's going on?"

"That was a result of an attack on Shen's life," Rhino said, though his voice riddle with anger. "Though the results were unforeseen, his actions were warranted."

"Shove it!" Croc shouted, snapping his fang mouth in front of Rhino. "Just come out and say it, you're afraid."

"How dare you," Rhino snapped finally turning on them, "what I have done…what I have always done is for the good of Gongmen City."

"What is going on here?"

Rhino turned around to face two new warriors. Though he never met the leopard he knew the stance well enough to tell he was highly skilled in kung fu. There could be no mistaking the small red panda that stood beside the growling brute.

"Grandmaster Shifu?" Rhino said, "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question," Shifu stated, his ears twitching. "I was under the impression that you were all killed when Shen took control of the city."

Rhino looked sadden a bit, but soon stood rigid with his shoulder's straight. "I choose to stand beside Shen to ensure he—"

"You WHAT!" Shifu shouted cutting him off. "How could you possible do such a thing?"

Rhino tore his gaze from Shifu. "I did only what I thought was the best means of protecting the people of Gongmen City," paused to look at the red panda. "I'm sure you would have done the same if our—"

His statement was cut short once again, though this time; it was due to Shifu slamming his foot against his chest. The forces of his strike combined with his chi sent Rhino deep into the far wall. "I have had enough this," Shifu shouted, "for too long I have followed the Master's Code and adhere to the laws brought down by the Emperor, but no more. This Shen has already destroyed two villages with his unholy weapon killing countless lives while leaving many other homeless and scattered, taken the life of not only the Dragon Warrior, but now my daughter. Plus, Shen has captured the remaining warriors of the Furious Five and will do god know what to them. Now then, I am going go out there and take that peacock down once and for all."

Storming Ox gripped the bar in front of him, his eyes narrow with rage. "You can't do that, he's too—"

"I don't want to hear it!" Shifu snapped. "Now I want you to get you're cowardly worthless excuse for kung fu masters out of that ceil or I will turn Tai Lung loose and let him tear you limb from limb!"

The three warriors turned their gaze from the enraged red panda to stare at the bulky snow leopard brings his hands together and begin to crack his knuckles, a look rage burning on his face a low grow slipping between his fangs.

Inside Shen's factory…

Shen stood before the remaining member of the Furious Five. They had been wrapped in chains and strung up to a large conveyor belt. Mantis hung trapped within a small cage…smaller than himself which hindered his moment. Crane found himself held upside down by his legs, with thick chains around his waist to keep his wings in place. Viper and Monkey were held tightly by a set of cuffs. The mad peacock brought a lit torch before the gold spider monkey; his ruby eye reflected the fire casting the beaten ape's face in a mixture of red and yellow. As opened an eye, his expression turned to a look of anger.

"You should have never involved yourselves in my business," Shen said in a mocking tone, "you would have lived slightly longer otherwise."

Monkey growled and then spat into Shen's face. "You'll pay for what you've done," he said his voice raw from lack of water.

"Do you truly believe that?" Shen said casting his arms about him, "Look around you."

The others turn their gaze from Shen to stare about the room. They hug about the top floor of a three story tall factory; clustered among a horde of wolves. Some of them were hard at work crafting more cannons while some were tossing in chunks of metal into a large vat to their left.

"My army of wolves is the most fierce and loyal of any other," Shen said drawing their attention. "My cannons have already crumbled two cities, plus killed two of your greatest warriors. And you are all about to die a excruciating death," he rose his metal arm to point toward the end of the conveyor where a vat of molten ore rested upon a blazing fire. "What makes you possibly—"

Shen's statement was cut short as the far doors burst open to reveal Shifu, Tai Lung along with Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox and Master Croc. They each stood in a fighting stance, weapon of choice held at the ready, and they all held a look of rage on their faces.

"It would seem that you have overlooked us," Shifu said, his voice calm and steady, "a costly mistake if you ask me."

"One that I do not attend to make again," Shen muttered, his ruby eye shined in the dim light. He then raised his voice to a thundering boom, echoing off the walls. "DESTROY THEM, DESTORY THEM ALL!"

Shifu and the others broke off, each of them taking on a group of wolves. Shifu made a beeline for the others, using his cane to poll volt over a wave of wolves and up to the next level. Thundering Rhino and Storming Ox used their weapons to destroyed the cannons, while Master Croc and Tai Lung fought through a horde of sword wielding wolves.

Shen stood back as his captives cheered them on.

"Not so tough now that someone is standing up to now are you?" Monkey mocked.

"You're fellow kung fu warriors may win the day," Shen said, the cracks in his voice betrayed his nerves state, "but their efforts to save you will be in vain!" With that he pulled back on a lever starting up the conveyer.

The knowledge that their friends were here to save them seemed to give the captive warriors a burst of strength and sought to free themselves from the chains. Crane gasp though when he saw the path of the conveyer led them over the large molten pit and their shackles were design to spring open the moment they over it.

Shen chuckled as the fools fought to free themselves knowing it was useless.

He turned just in time to avoid an incoming swing of the red panda's wooden staff. "You're quick," the deformed peacock said with a slight chuckle.

"Stop this madness now!" Shifu snapped, his eyes narrow.

"No I don't think I will," Shen replied calmly then tapped the bass of his own staff against the floor causing a scythe to pop out.

The two of them fought, both keep their distance, but ever so slowly Shifu shifted his position toward the conveyer control lever, hoping to stop it before it dropped his students their deaths.

"I know you're ruthless Shen," Shifu said in an attempt to keep the peacock off balance, "but now I see that in truth you're nothing but a coward."

"Coward?" Shen snapped.

"You hid behind that fraud too afraid of what the world would think of you. You couldn't accept what the Soothsayer's vision of your death, so you decided to cheat fate. Look at it has cost you. You're a monster; do you really think anyone would ever follow you?" He dared a passing glance at the controls. Just a little closer, he thought.

His thoughts were broken when he heard a faint chuckle and turned to gaze back at Shen, just in time to see him raise his metal arm. His fist spun around, a blade taking its place and thrust it forward. The shear speed of his attack was unbelievable and nearly had enough time to leap aside to avoid a fatal blow.

"My you're a fast one," Shen said. "You must have trained that loathsome panda that move." He then slammed the blunt end of his scythe against the red panda's neck and slowly pressed down. "But I will not allow you or some predetermined vision to rule me, nor will I let anyone stand in my of burning this world to ash," he paused to reach down to force Shifu gaze toward the conveyer. "Now watch in horror in what awaits you and every other worthless creature."

Shifu fought to turn away, but Shen's grip was too great. He shot his gaze to the side and could barely make out the others being overwhelmed by swarms of wolves and several massive gorillas. There was not much of a chance they could make it out of this alive, though if this was to be his last night at least he would die with honor.

Shen laughed evilly. It would only be a matter of moments before the first of the remaining Furious Five plunged into the pit. His warriors were making quick work of Shifu's pathetic band of kung fu masters and would soon join them.

Suddenly there was a loud groaning sound and the conveyer came to a dead stop. There was another groan followed by the sounds of metal breaking. Then flying out from the far end of the room came a large wheel.

"What?" Shen snapped jumping to the side to avoid getting hit allowing Shifu to slip out from under the blade.

Shen turned to face the far end of the conveyer, shrouded in darkness. He could see nothing, and then a pair of eyes appeared. He heard a faint growl and then in blur something jumped out across the captive warriors. There was a sharp slicing sound followed by the four warriors falling to the ground, their chains completely destroyed.

Though that was not the most shocking part, for standing between Shen and the others was non-other than Tigress.

"You," Shen snapped dropping his weapon, "you can't be here, I saw you die."

Tigress slowly stood up from her knelt position and calmly brushed some dust from her shoulders. "Sorry to disappoint you, but that was you're muscle bound one hand brute who died," she paused to move into a fighting stance. "Now where were we?"

"Stay away from me." Shen snapped, his voice cracking with fear.

Tigress couldn't keep herself from chuckling as she cast her gaze behind Shen. "Oh I'm not the one you should be worried about."

Shen continued to back away until he felt something hard and furry brush up against his back. Tilting his head up, his fear grew as he gazed into the jade eyes of the panda.

"What you were expecting someone else?" Po asked with a faint smile.