Sorry this one took me a while to write, but I was busy trying to plan a graduation party for my sister. Anyway Chapter 24 is here now and ready for you so Enjoy the read!

Chapter 24

Turning The Tide

Po was staring up at Tigress wide eyed as she stood over him. Her being wrapped in a fiery red aura as she glared daggers at Nightshade who also seemed shocked. "She has finally done it! The second light has been born!" Gladir said in a shocked tone. Then Po's own thoughts finally caught up to him. "W-Wait…Tigress…what did you just say?" Po asked catching his breath as he got to his knees. Tigress chanced a glance at the Panda she now protected. "You heard me Po…My answer is yes…" Her face serious but her tone was soft. Po's face grew his biggest smile yet. She had said Yes! She wanted to spend the rest of her life with HIM. Po, the noodle kid from the valley is going to Marry Master Tigress! As he completely forgot about Nightshade and Hei'an, Po tried to get to his feet, his paw still covering his heart, but Tigress kept him from standing as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Po I can't believe I'm saying this but we have to wait for our moment. Right now we have to deal with Nightshade." Po was a bit disappointed but knew she was right as she asked. "Can you fix yourself up?" Tigress asked him. Po looked himself over a moment as he said "I think so…but it's gonna take a little time…" Tigress stood firmly before him as she declared. "Then get started my panda. I'll keep this freak busy until you're ready." "And I shall watch over him."

Po and Tigress turned to see their master and friends behind them all marveling at Tigress's new found power. Shifu stepped forward to Tigress and said to Tigress. "While you are keeping Nightshade at bay, I will make sure Po remains safe while he focuses his Chi. As for the rest of the Five." He then turned to the four remaining Masters. "You will all go to the other end of the Cavern and stop the people from digging any further. Be careful, for they are likely to be incredibly hostile." His students bowed saying "Yes Master." Tigress then said "Once I engage him, you guys move. Got it? Her friends nodded as Po got into a seated position while Master Shifu stood before him, ready to protect his student. "Be careful Tigress…this guy is good." Po said between breaths with a slightly worried expression. Tigress turned to face Nightshade. "Yes, well…He hasn't gone claw to claw with me like this." Po then asked "You mean with Huo's Power?" But Tigress then shook her head no as she stepped forward saying "No…Protecting you…" and with that Tigress's aura flared as she charge Nightshade. While Po sat there a bit surprised but smiled, as he began to focus on his own Chi, while Shifu stood before him, and the rest of the Five began to rush to the other side of the large room. All the while a single thought ran through Po's head. "That's my kitten."

In what seemed like a second Tigress had cleared the distance between her and Nightshade as she began to attack, delivering powerful punches and kicks his way with a snarl escaping her maw. She was furious at the wolf for trying to take away her fiance. For trying to kill him. So with the single thought of Protecting Po, she went to work. Her Claw strike landing across the wolf's face.

Nightshade had cried out in pain. The Tiger had somehow managed to obtain Huo's power! He almost couldn't believe what he was seeing as the Tiger launched a spin kick, he brought his arms forward to block it. But the force of her kick was so strong he was sent skidding backwards as she landed into a fighting stance. "How has she become so powerful, so fast!?" Nightshade screamed in his head. Hei'an's voice then bellowed in his mind. "It is the power of Huo's flame. The brighter it burns the stronger the warrior becomes…and right now this creature's righteous furry burns to protect the one she cares for most…But she is still a novice, and cannot stand against you alone for long. Use my power Nightshade, and allow yourself to be given to me completely!"

Tigress was standing before the wolf. She had managed to land quite a few hits this time. Apparently this power was allowing her to keep up with Nightshade both in strength and speed, unlike the last time she faced him. She then heard Huo's voice in her head. "For someone with no idea how to use this power you are doing quite well child. But may I make a suggestion?" Tigress just rolled her eyes saying "Sure. Why not?" Huo then said "Focus the flame into your claws." Tigress then asked "How do I do that?" But Huo then responded "You just have to want it to happen. The Heroines flame is now yours Child! It answers to YOUR WILL! Now focus! Here he comes!" Tigress watched as Nightshade became cloaked in a purple aura matching her own and Po's. As he rushed her, she focused "Come on…" Tigress thought to herself as her Claws began to glow, going from the usual black color to a magnificent Bright red with small flames at her finger tips, but the flames didn't hurt her rather it was as if she couldn't feel any heat at all. At first Tigress thought it was because of her training in the Ironwood forest. But Huo had told her that the Heroines flame would never hurt her, now that she had obtained it. As Nightshade launched a fireball at her Tigress brought her claws in an upward slash extinguishing the fire ball before her very eyes. "Now THIS may actually be useful." Tigress thought to herself as she charged at Nightshade again.

With Shifu and Po….

Shifu had been standing before Po as the panda began to channel his Chi throughout his body. Shifu glanced at the panda and saw that each cut and gash on the bears body was now glowing a soft bluish glow, as the panda continued to focus, the wounds beginning to seal. Shifu then turned his attention to Tigress and Nightshade, who were locked in fierce Combat as the Wolf continued to hurl dark fire at Tigress while she managed to extinguish each fireball with her now glowing claws. "Magnificent…" was all Shifu thought when he noticed one of the fireballs got past Tigress and was heading their way. Tigress glanced back her eyes widened in fear but as her eyes met Shifu's, his squinted in concentration as he tossed a nearby rock up into the air, jumped and kicked it at the incoming fireball resulting in a small explosion not ten feet away from where he stood. Rubble flying all around them. Shifu then gave his daughter a slight nod as he saw her face show him gratitude, while she turned back to face the wolf, a new furry in her eyes.

Just then Po muttered "Master?" Shifu turned and noticed Po's wounds had stopped healing as quickly, as his attention was divided between healing his wounds and listening to the sounds around him. "Everything is fine Panda, now focus! The faster you heal, the sooner you can help Tigress! I will protect you for now. Now be quick!" Po nodded his eyes still closed as his wounds began to glow brighter as he put all of his attention into his Chi control. He had to work quickly, Gladir had sensed Nightshade's power flare yet again and Po knew Tigress was gonna need him. "Just a little more…I'll be there soon Kitten…"

With the Furious Four…

Viper and the other masters were sprinting across the narrow path to the other side of the cave. Once they reached the far side they turned to see Shifu had managed to protect Po from an incoming fireball and knew there friend would be safe. Tigress also seemed to be keeping up with Nightshade…for now. The masters came up to the work site as about two dozen creatures of all kinds were digging through the giant wall. Viper called to her friends. "We have to stop them all from digging through! Crane, see if you can push them back from the wall. Mantis, try to paralyze as many of them as you can! Monkey and I will try to take down the Rhino and the Gorilla, NOW GO!" Viper ordered as her friends went to work.

Crane had flown up high against the wall as he turned and flapped his wings downward, shouting "WINGS OF JUSTICE!" As a massive gust of wind pushed back many of the mind controlled victims. While Crane was keeping the smaller ones back Mantis went to work hopping from person to person delivering nerve attacks, immobilizing his targets in a matter of seconds. Though it was difficult making it through each of Cranes gusts Mantis made quick progress nonetheless.

Viper and Monkey had reached their targets. As Monkey dealt with the Rhino, Viper went after the Gorilla. Monkey had picked up an abandoned shovel and was whacking the Rhino trying to get his attention. When the Rhino did take notice he brought his sledge hammer around and nearly took Monkey's head clean off. But Monkey leaned back avoiding it as he jumped up and smacked the rhino in the face with his shovel resulting in the Rhino stepping back shaking the stars out of his head. When the Rhino opened his eyes he saw Monkey flying at him with the shovel again as Monkey attacked the rhino relentlessly. The rhino tried to avoid Monkey's attacks but was finding it to be quite useless. When the Rhino brought his hammer around a fifth time, Monkey had leaped into the air and brought the Shovel down hard onto the Rhino's head, resulting in the Rhino dropping his hammer as he fell forward unconscious. Monkey just smiled saying "He wasn't so tough."

Viper was dealing with the Gorilla as he swung a pick axe at her trying to kill the snake. But each time he attacked, Viper would avoid each strike and attack the Gorilla in the face resulting in him stepping back a bit, but he would come back for more. "This isn't working." Viper thought to herself. "If only I had my ribbon." as Viper recalled the time that she had protected her father from the armored Gorilla who attacked her village as a child. Viper looked around as her eyes fell onto a pile of rope. "That will do." She said as Viper slithered over to the rope and cut it to an ideal length as the Gorilla charged at her. "Time to wrap this up!" Viper hollered as she began to attack the Gorilla with the rope. All the while Mantis had hollered to Monkey who was helping him with the remaining victims. "Okay she has officially spent way too much time with Po!" Monkey just laughed as he brought his fist to a pig's face.

Viper had managed to tie the rope to the Gorilla's right wrist as she slithered along his body reaching the left. As the Gorilla tried to reach for the snake he found that his movement had been restricted, and couldn't reach her. Viper then took the rope wrapping it around the Gorillas legs forcing the Gorilla to stand still. As the Gorilla struggled to get free, Viper had tied the knot and with a swift whip of her tail, attacked the Gorilla in the face knocking him over, and out. "And that's a wrap!" Viper cried as she turned to see her comrades giving her odd looks. "What? Viper asked. Crane said. "Maybe… you should just leave the whole catchphrase thing to Po…" The other two nodded their heads in agreement as Viper put on an annoyed expression.

With Tigress and Nightshade…

Tigress was laying into Nightshade hard and fast, but he was managing to either block of evade her strikes. She noticed that as time progressed the wolf seemed to be getting both faster and stronger with each passing moment. The two were a blur of red and purple lights as Tigress continued to attack. But as they reached the center of the room Nightshade had gotten underneath one of Tigress's Flaming Claw strikes and attacked her with his own purple flaming fist, sending the Tiger back a ways. As Tigress recovered she saw Nightshade upon her and managed to avoid a dark slash of his by a mere centimeter as she leaped back again. This was bad. Tigress was losing ground and fast. As Nightshade hurled two more purple fire balls, Tigress attacked each one, only to discover that Nightshade had used the distraction to disappear. "Where?" Tigress thought aloud when Huo shouted "CHILD, BEHIND YOU!"

But as Tigress turned she was met with a powerful kick and was sent tumbling back onto the hard cavern floor. As she tried to get up Nightshade had landed on top of her, resulting in making a small impact within the earth as he had delivered a powerful puch straight to her center, having the wind literally knocked out of her. As Nightshade Brought his fist up a second time, Tigress was about to try and force him off of her when a bright golden light was fired at the wolf sending him screaming into a nearby wall. Tigress looked to see that Po was on his feet again, his right palm out stretched and a sly grin on his face. As his body began to glow it's golden aura Po had rushed over to Tigress in a mater of seconds and was on his knees with her in his arms. "Miss me?" Po asked with that stupid grin of his. Tigress just rolled her eyes and said "Tons." As Po helped her to her feet. Tigress looked him over quickly and saw that Po was indeed good as new. Po then said "Shifu went over to see if the others needed any help." Po informed her as the two of them heard a low snarl off to the side.

Po and Tigress both turned to see Nightshade climbing out of an impression within the wall Po had shot him into. As he landed on his feet, Tigress had taken note that Nightshade seemed to be more feral now his eyes completely purple to the point you can no longer see any pupils, not to mention the vicious snarls coming from him. Nightshade then cried out "Must…free…Master!" as the wolf howled loudly. But Po and Tigress went unfazed, as the two of them stood together with Po saying. "Buddy, there is no way we are gonna let that happen. We're taking you down once and for all, Panda Tiger Style!" And with that, Po and Tigress's auras both began to flare as they called upon the powers of the Heroes Chi and the Heroines Flame, as if to make a point, while Nightshade summoned even more Darkness, and the three destined ones charged each other. Two Lights against one Darkness….

OKAY Po and Tigress are both finally ready to take on Nightshade. can the two of them manage to defeat the wolf and keep Hei'an from getting free? Check back for the next Chapter

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