A/N: Wow, hello everybody!It's good to be back with another chapter, now time to bring some missing elements that were missing in the last chapters. And new ones of course!Time for replies!

Shen's General ;

Lol good to see you again General, I'm sure you could't wait a bit more or could you? :p

Anoymousrules;

Lol, thanks!

ShifuFanatic;

Wow, thanks a lot buddy, I'm happy for it.

Crown Prince of Horror;

Well there was that...guy long ago...I think. Eh, I forgot. ;p So you like those, huh?He came unexpectedly for me, wasn't working on a specific personality, he just came the way I wanted him to act with his own purposes. Thanks a lot for the support.

DSAP;

Dude!Where were you?!It's great to see you back! :)

Alpha tiger;

Thanks a lot for the kind words, I'm thankful for your support and I hope I can live to expectations.

XdiaZ;

Lol, I wonder too... :P

Charlie ;

Ok then Charlie, I'm happy you liked. Thanks again.

BluTiger101;

I'm glad to be of help anytime. ;p

Synchronized Harmony;

So happy to see you again *hugs* was missing you a lot!And yeah, someone found something they never should.

"GET COVER!GET OUT HERE NOW!"

A not so distant scream that echoed at everyone's ears nearby. Most warriors had gotten themselves admiring the red brightly light that would soon end their lifes. With much effort most of them managed to turn around and ran before getting hit. Most of them...

The cannonball splashed into an explosion nearby the entrance of the Courtyard sending debris flying everywhere along with an intense heat. The air shock wave send some of them out of their feet for brief seconds. Shifu, Viper, Mantis and Mei Ling went safely out of range. Ruskin and Paol were knocked out and landed few meters away stunned. Fenghuang flew out of range just in time. But Shen and Crane were caught by it.

The peacock tried to move out but he was sent flying harshly through few wood tables. Luckily he didn't got any major injuries, just few scratches. Crane wasn't so lucky.

The waterfowl was the closest, the heat from the explosion burned a good number of his feathers. Pieces of debris penetrated through his wings as he tried to block them making deep wounds at his chest. The bird flew into several spins, his hat disappearing in the mean time. The bird hit the ground head on first knocking him out of conscious.

"What the hell?!" Screamed Ruskin looking around to see the devastation on the courtyard."Can someone explain me what the hell was that thing?!"

Nobody gave him a straight answer, but most warriors gazed at the peacock that had gotten himself up with difficult.

"We know what it is, but we don't have time to explain, we need to get out of the range of that weapon!" Shifu yelled back at him while checking on his students."We need to move back to the Palace, we'll be safe in there."

Tigress wondered what would make Shifu think that way, then another huge boommm warned them about another fireball incoming, but this time it landed way down below at the staircase.

'So those things can't reach too far,' Tigress though to herself while seeing more canons firing but unable to get a better distance than the first shot.

"Let's go back then, everybody, ok?" Paol asked while moving around to check if anyone was wound.

"We're good," Mei Ling said while helping Shen, Fenghuang came for his aid aswell.

"Where's Crane?" Mantis asked noticing the waterfowl was missing. At this the mountain cat stopped. She was petrified, she forgot to look for him and went straight for Shen instead.

"I'll look for him," She said letting the owl take care of the peacock for now.

"You don't have to, I found him," Ruskin said looking at a specific area. The mountain cat followed his gaze, she felt her hearth stop when she saw the avian at the floor motionless.

"HUANG!"

The mountain cat rushed to his side fastest possible. Ruskin, Tigress and Shifu came along.

"Gez, he doesn't look good," Ruskin commented with a frown while tending to Crane's wounds. The bird was bleeding at several spots, small pieces of debris stuck at his chest, several wing feathers were cut or burned. His neck had a small twist, the major bleeding coming from his head.

"We have to move him inside now, there's no time," Tigress said while grabbing Crane's legs. Ruskin caught the avian by the wings and carried him along with the female tiger to the dorms. Mei Ling wanted to go along but Shifu stopped her.

"I need you now Mei Ling, Crane can wait," The red panda said severely. The mountain cat wondered if that was a bad joke.

"Wait?!He's dying and you think he can wait?!I'm suppose to take care of him more than the others!" She tried to hold her fury the best she could.

"We're not safe yet, I need you, Mantis, Viper and the younger wolf to go down to the Valley. Those citizens need our help quick!" Master Shifu knew it wasn't fair to ask her to do such at the moment, but duty had to come first."Don't let your feelings get in the way, it won't bring you any good,"

"Feelings?!You think this is just about feelings?!" The mountain cat was getting so upset now that it costed much for her no to rage at the red panda."For several years I waited to see him again, at the Academy Crane was the only thing I could call as family. He was my best friend, then my boyfriend and now the only family I got left. If you want me to abandon him to death to save other families?Fine!But if he dies I would never forgive myself for doing such!I'm not a Furious Five member, I'm not attached to your rules and stuff. Unlike the others I DO have a choice. And right now no matter what I choose, it will be the right one."

Mantis, Viper and Paol stared silently while looking at the two. Mantis and Paol could understand the mountain cat agony, even Viper was on Ling's side.

"Master Shifu, maybe you should let her stay and call Tigress. It would be more suitable," Viper suggested carefully hoping not to be yelled at. But Shifu didn't seem to listen, he was looking down at the ground at wonder. He once let this family thing affect him and didn't brought any good. Was he so sure that it could happen with anyone around him that decide to go to the same path?Would him let his past fears and duties blind him for what really matter for other people?

"Perhaps,..." Shifu said after a minute of silence."..please, tell her to come here if you can Mei Ling."

The mountain cat felt a bit relieved and somewhat ashamed.

"Yes Master Shifu, I'm sorry," She said.

"There's no need to be sorry, it's your choice. I can't judge you for that," He said before the cat turned to leave. The red panda turned to talk with the rest present."We'll go down at the village, but it will take time, his canons are firing at the mountain which means we'll be completely expose at the staircase. They have numbers and power. We need to use any obstacles to our advantage, no matter if for hiding or covering."

"There's a lot indeed, we should cover different corners by our own or should we go on teams?" Mantis asked being extremely concerned by how badly outnumbered they were.

"No more than two per team," Shifu said without delay. Mantis nodded.

"We might have some of our own arriving here soon, sir," Paol said while checking how many arrows he got left."Our numbers won't increase that much but our soldiers are much more skilled than any of those imperials."

The red panda eyed him curiously.

"Who are you?If you mind me asking,"

"I'm a renegade member, Paol Koslov at your service if needed," He replied waving his paw.

"The renegade group?" Shifu was surprise.

"You know them Master?" Viper asked curious.

"Yes, they have formed a long time ago since the new emperor ascended to the throne, during the last decades there were several rumors about a criminal organization causing havoc at several valleys and important cities. The most serious one being the assault at the imperial palace eight years ago. That attempted killed most royal soldiers from a different land that came to make a tread and few loyal imperial allies. But nobody never knew what was their true intentions when the renegades were create. Master Oogway never said much about it, which makes me doubt even more about this group."

"One day we might tell you," Paol said with a smile."In the mean time it's good enough for you that we're here to aid with this big trouble you got in your hands."

Before Shifu could said anything Fenghuang landed next to them. The red panda eyed her with the same severity he did with Mei Ling.

"Fenghuang, what brings you here?" His voice was harsh. Paol came to defend her quick.

"She helped us a lot to save Shen. She was with Crane fighting with the imperials while I came to courtyard to stop the execution. She's on our side, sir. At least for now."

Shifu could pretend he didn't listen, but even so he frowned at it.

"What reasons could make you even bother to help us?You let clear long time ago you didn't want nothing more in here,"

The owl kept her expression neutral. She was ready for whatever Shifu would say to make her upset.

"I do have an understanding of the situation here, despite of what you might think I do want to help save the Valley, even if...I don't live here anymore, this place still feel like home, and I can't let them destroy it. I never intended to do such. I know you don't like me Shifu, but...I have plenty of reasons to do it,"

The red panda eyed her carefully, it was hard to say if she was being honest, but this time he felt she was.

"It's not the time to push confidence so high, but I'm aware of you medical knowledge, I need for you to help Crane. In the mean time I'll bring the other wolf along down to the Valley."

Fenghuang realized Shifu was giving her a choice, something he usually wouldn't do at all, perhaps he had change on the last years.

"Very well, I'll inform him to come here and met you," She said before flapping her huge wings and return to the dorms.

Meanwhile...

It was over midnight, the boats filled with renegade troops were slowly crossing the rivers towards Valley of Peace. At the current pace they would be there in few minutes. Yallin tried to teach Po how to fish, but after the panda managed to pull out Monkey's pants instead of a fish he gave up. It was hard to say who was more annoyed, Tigress or Yallin. The wolf gave Po a crate filled with fruits so the panda would stop complaining about being hungry.

"Ta-hks aff lof-t!" Po said with the mouth filled. Yallin was having a nervous eye twitch.

"You're welcome," He said slowly while walking away. After few minutes Zach came in to talk to them after hours of debate along the other squad leaders.

"We just got some info that the citizens have been moved away from the village, which is good. We won't have to worry about hitting innocent people. Also I heard that the Jade Palace was secure by the kung fu masters, and we have two men up there that aided them,"

Po gave a big scream of relieve spitting pieces of fruit all over the place.

"HA!I knew they could do it!Those imperials are no match for their kungfuness!"

"Yeah, the thing is that there's something else going on in there that our spies couldn't explain well,"

Po stopped his victory dance looking at the fox confused.

"What?" Zach shrugged.

"They said there's some kind of metal that fires pretty lights at long distances and does a lot of damage when it hits something, and sets everything on fire. I have no idea what they're talking about."

Tigress, Monkey and Po eyed each other at the same moment.

"It can't be," Po said in a whisper.

"How they managed to do that?!I though all those canons were destroyed!" Tigress said finally raising up from her spot after a long time.

"Maybe someone forgot to check it again," Monkey said with a chuckle.

"It's not time for jokes Monkey!This is serious!" Tigress snapped at the simian.

"Alright, alright. No need to get so nervous, gez,"

"What are you all talking about?" Zach asked while looking at their reactions.

"We know what those things are," Tigress said turning to face the fox."If I was you I would advise your men to take them down quick, in one hit those things can kill dozens. Don't let them aim at your or you're gone."

Zach merely frowned at her warn. He stood still thinking with himself for a bit.

"I need to know how many of those there's in there. If they're so dangerous as you say then we might have to do some changes, we'll be arriving at the Valley in few minutes."

"We'll take care of those. If you can, clear the path for us so we can do it faster," She said firmly.

"Alright, I'll sent one of my squads along with you. Good luck for us all," He said before turning to leave.

"Do you think Shen gave them the location of any remaining cannons?" Monkey suggested. Po frowned.

"Shen don't have nothing to do with those canons being there. Okay maybe the canons were invented by him but the fact of them being there doesn't mean he's the main guilty."

Monkey raised an eyebrow.

"Po, that doesn't matter anymore, we have to save the Valley," Tigress said. Po was undignified.

"Wha?..but it was Monkey who started!" He said pointed to the simian.

"Yeah, but you continued," Monkey replied back.

'*sigh* I hope we get there soon.' Tigress gazed at distance. Despite being dark she could recognize few hills nearby the valley.

Meanwhile...

Crane was laying at his room with Fenghuang, Mei Ling and Shen. The peacock wounds were already taken care of. The owl was having a hard time to remove the pieces of debris since her talons were too big for the task and her wings wouldn't be any better, she had to ask for Mei Ling to do such. The mountain cat remained quit the whole time while being instructed on how to proceed by the owl. Shen watched carefully. Crane at current state wasn't looking much different from the time the waterfowl found Shen after his fall at Gongmen City.

"He suffered a concussion," Fenghuang sighed."This will take some time. I can't do nothing about the feathers except for cutting the damage ones and wait them to grow up again. Hum...this twist in his neck will need bandages, you have to grip them tight."

Mei Ling did as she owl instructed. The mountain cat was shaking a bit but managed to keep herself up to the task, it made her nauseous to have her hands covered in blood while checking every wound.

"Very well, clean him up. Hum,...do you know if there's any herbs of medicinal items around here?" The mountain cat frowned.

"I believe not. I think it's Mantis who deals with such, but yesterday he told me he ran out of it. He would be getting more at the village."

The owl's expression darkened.

"Only on the village?I'm afraid it can't wait, I need those items quick. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise?" The mountain cat asked fearing the answer.

"He will die in few hours."

The atmosphere in the room seemed to turn icy. Shen made a weird noise wit his throat.

"Uh...but...can't you..." Mei Ling seemed lost.

"I wish I could, but this injury on his head was extremely bad. If I don't use the proper things...he..." The owl felt terrible for making this with her, but it was the true."I'm sorry."

The peacock went to the cat's side, he could understand a bit of her pain. Even so lamenting wouldn't save Crane so peacock was aware of what to do.

"Can you borrow us time?" Shen asked. The owl was a bit surprised.

"Hum...yes, but what exactly you intend to do?"

"What exactly do you need?"

"Shen, you're not seriously thinking on going down there..." Fenghuang was at shock. The peacock smirked.

"I would like to have some fun, I think I'm healed enough for that," The peacock revealed his metal weaponry hidden in his robe. It's been a long time since I used those."

"Shen, you'll get yourself killed, those people are here mostly to kill you. What gives you a reason to do such foolish thing?"

"He saved my life...this is my chance to return the favor. And I won't sit here like a coward and let it happen. Are you dispose to take the risk to save him Mei Ling?" Shen said staring at the mountain cat kneeled besides the waterfowl.

The mountain cat slowly nodded. Her hopes were low but if there was at least one, it would be worthy of everything.

"We do have a chance, keep your hopes alive and never give up, we can do it...and we will."

A/N: Oh, time for some dramatic events, and things will get nuts! - Have a nice week!