A/N: Welcome back for another short reading, lol hehe. Anyway I got some 'interesting' replies, let's go for it.
BartesThePanda;
Honestly I could spent my time writing what I think about PoxTigress but that would take more than my entire fic so I'll be short. Okay, you think it's good, fine. Thank you. But then you're pointing about PxT and the number of chapters. First off, the number of chapters doesn't matter(as long it's not 100 to 900 words per chapter)now the real stuff. The reason of why It didn't show up yet it's, as you haven't notice, it's a fic that goes mainly around Crane and Shen, but I'm trying to give the others a lot more plot than even myself was tempted to do. There will be a PxT but I'll do it the way it looks better, not just some rush stuff with a lot of blahblah I love you all of sudden and a lot of insinuations. It's the same thing when people come to me talking about CranexViper, heck go talk about CranexViper to Charlie and you'll see what happens. I see that there's a lot of PoXTigress stories at the archive in the last two months and a lot of readers coming out of the blue, which amazed me. It's good, but it's also sad because there's a lot of other characters to work with and not many people give them a chance. Now if you wanna turn this archive into some fluffy thing like Tangled archive with 90% of its stories being a romance about the same two people you better try it on someplace else, it's not gonna be here buddy.
Shen's General;
Thanks!Yeah, that guy is annoying. And he'll be even worse.
Charlie ;
Oh well, that's something I would say in a more less educated manner, but I'm admired off not seeing a single censured word on your text.
Crown Prince of Horror;
Hum...you know the cliffhangers are natural things sometimes, I do them a lot to get on people who curiosity of what's happening next. Okay, maybe sometimes I went over the dose. But I tend to do 3000 words per chapter so I was on the limit already. Thanks a lot about your opinion on Fenghuang, I so much want to give her a bigger plot. I think she was the most interesting character from the series, and to be honest...I can do a much better character from anything of that OOC series that Nick made. Yeah, I knew sometime someone would bring the whole PoxTigress stuff again. It's natural.
BluTiger101;
Thanks! :)
Anonymousrules;
Yeah, I do it as such. :P
TheHonorableTest;
Great to see you again!And...I'm not making any promises... :P
Synchronized Harmony;
Welcome back!*hugs again* :) Thank you.
ShootingStar;
I hope so.
Unilever;
They might will, let's hope for it.
Alpha tiger;
Tension might keep rising soon.
"Three Minutes!All men at position!"
The distant yell of a warrior was the sign that indicated the group of renegades have reached the Valley of Peace outskirts. Po, Tigress and Monkey were getting ready on their own. While looking around they could see faces filled with anxiety and determination, fear wasn't a deniable feeling at the moment, but they had no real reasons to fear nothing...yet.
"Well, this is it," Zach said while looking around and examining the edges of the river waiting to find a good area to land his troops."They are not expecting us to come from the back so we'll have to do this quick before they manage to counter-attack. Tigress, I know your group is strong, but you wouldn't mind if I detach few of my men along with you three?" He asked looking at the feline with slight concern.
Tigress though a bit before answering.
"It's up to you, if they can keep with us that's fine for me, but they're at their own risk. We'll be in a rush to clear a path straight to the Palace. I won't stop til those cannons are destroyed either. I cannot assure they'll be fine with us." The fox let out a smirk.
"No doubt, but I'm sending my best group at the moment along yours. They're lacking of two members that are currently at the Palace aiding your friends. I'll introduce you all to the team in a moment," Zach turned around to call his mentioned group. In the mean time Tigress entered into an conversation with Po and Monkey.
"Well, you two know what we gotta do," She said firmly.
"Errr..." Po said confused. Tigress rolled her eyes.
"Destroy the cannons and while I go to the Palace you two will look for the citizens,"
"Oh yeah, I hope dad's alright," The panda had a worried expression.
"Don't worry Po, I'm sure he's fine, despite of how much those imperials crossed the line here," Tigress in assurance.
"So you'll go up there and bring the others down to help us?" Monkey asked while looking at the Jade Mountain that was now clearly visible.
"I have to make sure they don't have a problem of their own, the fox guy said they have at least six thousand men at the Valley,"
At this Po and Monkey's eyes widened.
"Six thousand?Wow, gez that's a lot!" The simian was amaze. Po wasn't that much impressed.
"But so what?You guys defeat that ten thousand army, remember?!This is gonna be way less tiresome." He said convincingly.
Monkey and Tigress eyed each other discretely. They both shared discomfortable stares.
"Yeah, but imperial troops are way harder to fight against than that army was, we have to be careful."
Zach came back shortly after.
"Okay, most part of the team is on the other boats but you all will get along as soon we land. In the mean time I'll introduce one of our best warriors. Hey Trigger!Come here!"
After he called a well-muscled but slim hawk showed up. He had a black vest with a red phoenix running along one side of it. He also has black pants as well in contrast to his brown and white feathers. He has a crack on the left side of his beak and a scar over his right eye. His weapon being a singular crossbow that is a combo of a sickle, a whip, and a crossbow, as the edge of the bow is like a blade, while the handle can extend into a blade-like whip.
"What the heck do you want this time?!" The hawk replied annoyed while coming towards them. The kung masters raised eyebrows at his behavior. Zach chuckled nervously.
"He's kinda of a hot head sometimes, but he's very valuable so we have to stick with his way to be, even if sometimes he might run out of the limit." The fox explained to them in a tone of excuse.
"I hope you're not starting again that boring talk we had like hundreds of times ago. Seriously, I could get nightmares just by thinking on that."
"Alright, alright we got it," Zach said calmly. "This is the group of kung fu warriors you'll be with in the village."
The hawk examined them carefully.
"Why a panda?" He asked with mockery. Tigress snorted.
"He's the dragon warrior, you should do not underestimated him," She said while staring at the hawk in challenge.
"Hum...very well my lady, if you say so," He said suddenly becoming softer. "I'm assume you three are the ones I'll be babysitting while having to kill more damn Imperials. I was missing to have some heads to cut off,"
"Hey, we can take care of our own!We don't need you to watch our backs!" Monkey said feeling offended.
"Whatever you say, kids like you don't last in battles like this, all so convinced about yourselves and all. I've seen that before, you will die in a matter of minutes,"
It was clear that the kung fu warriors were disliking of the hawk minute by minute. Zach was afraid this would end badly.
"Enough of this talk please, we are here to work together and save the people we care for,"
"You maybe, I'm here just because I'm getting paid enough," Trigger said while checking his weaponry.
"Paid?" Po seemed shocked. Zach felt bad for what was happening.
"Hum...not ALL of our warriors do this for the right cause, at least not without some rewards. So that's why we're seem like criminals most times. We have to raid some towns to be able to sustain our army. It's not really easy as it looks like."
"Who's the leader?Who is behind all of this anyway?" Tigress asked straight to the fox. Zach was totally unsure of how to answer that.
"Well, we don't talk about that much,"
"You shouldn't, it's a secret and unless you wanna pay a high price for opening your mouth you better keep it shut." The hawk said harshly.
"I know that Trigger, but unlike you I do things different," Zach snapped back at the hawk with anger.
"Sure you do, your softness is what's carrying you away from getting a more important role in this," The hawk said before flying away to another boat. Zach growled.
"This guy always manages to get me nervous, I'm tired of him," The fox said angrily.
"He sure doesn't seem the most charming type," Tigress said while looking at the hawk flying around the boats.
"Heh, leave him alone with a woman and see how different he becomes, it astonishing," Zach said with a chuckle.
"How many others will be joining us?"
"About four or five, you'll be fine,"
Meanwhile...
"Shen, maybe you should let me do this, I'm more for a ready for a combat than you are,"
Fenghuang was trying to convince Shen to change his mind about going down the village. Not that she really cared that much about Crane, but she wasn't dispose to let the peacock take such risk.
"I can do it, or you think I'm weak?" The peacock replied back with irony.
"I never said that, I'm just saying I'm more up to the task of such level than you are at the moment. Besides you got wounded recently by the blast of the cannon. Mei Ling and I will do this...together if we have too,"
Mei Ling raised an eyebrow.
"If you don't wanna help me that's fine, Huang's my responsibility. I'm not forcing anyone to come along," The mountain cat said turning to leave. Fenghuand had use the waterfowl's ink to write the items the cat would need to bring.
Before any of them could reply a goose came flying inside the room and accidentally slammed against Mei Ling's head.
"Ow, oh my!I'm so sorry Master Ling!" Zeng said while recovering himself from the wooden floor. The cat merely caressed the back of her head.
"It's ok Zeng, what you're doing here anyway?"
"Uh?Oh yes!Err..Master Shifu send me to inform you that he's moving down to the village with the wolves and masters Viper and Mantis. He strongly recommended for you all to stay here if possible."
"Well, I'm sorry Zeng, but I'm moving down to the village too, we need to get some stuff there to help Huang to get better, if not..." Mei Ling paused for a moment. Zeng chuckled nervously.
"If not...what?"
"Mei Ling, there's not time to waste, we gotta move now," Fenghuang alerted her. The cat stared at Crane laying on the floor heavily injured. At each minute it passed the closest he was from death.
With a firm nod she turned her back away and left the room. Fenghuang and Shen stared at each other.
"Now it's the opportunity you were expecting," Shen said while looking severely at the owl. She said nothing, her face turning towards the injured waterfowl.
'Despite of how much I hated them those last years,...I feel weird, why?Why I can't do this anymore?Did this crane found a way to soften the way I am?No...it gotta be something else. This don't feel right anymore.'
The owl was lost in her own thoughts. Shen awaited patiently for her to reach at her own decision. After what seemed several minutes she finally did it.
"You were right...things can be different, if we try hard. It will take time but..."
"So you won't do it anymore?You'll forget about those plans of yours and move on to a different path, that's what you meant?" The peacock seemed to be having fun with this situation, but he couldn't forget that Crane was dying near them and there was no time for mockery.
Fenghuang stared back at the peacock with dare.
"Perhaps, I'm not making promises any sooner, but...I guess I can try it, try to be the person I was before everything that...I can try,"
"Well, it's always a start. Now shut up and listen, I WILL go down there you liking or not, you have to take care of Crane for now, do what you can. I'll do my part."
The owl sighed in defeat. She knew that nothing she said would make his mind, even so she had to try. As she saw the peacock leaving the room she couldn't help but let her concern be expressed.
"Be careful Shen,"
"Why?" He asked back while passing the door.
"Cause I care about you," She said, but almost as a whisper so Shen didn't hear. The owl went next to Crane examination the bandages.
Then, somehow, the waterfowl opened his eyes slowly. That surprised her deeply, after a major hit on the head she wasn't even expecting for him to wake up til tomorrow. Crane's eyes slowly studied the room around him before finally fixing on the owl. He slowly opened his beak as if he was trying to speak but nothing came out. The owl wondered if he was too dizzy to even talk. The way he was looking at her was quite disturbing, she wasn't sure if he was sad or in pain. No doubt in pain though.
"Crane, don't make any efforts, you're too wounded, you're bleeding too much. Just stay still."
Apparently the waterfowl could still understand, but curiously he lifted his left-wing towards her, the wing was missing several feathers. The owl wasn't sure what he wanted. She gave him a confused stared. Crane's eyes were going from her to his wing.
"You...want me...to..hold your wing?"
Crane blinked with one eye.
The owl felt extremely uncomfortable now, the one to do such things at this moment should be Mei Ling, not her!Why he was asking such towards her?
Despite of how odd it seemed she slowly extended her own wing to hold Crane's wing. The waterfowl seemed extremely thankful, why of that the owl didn't know. She couldn't help but feel pity of him.
"Just relax, you'll be fine," She said in a much softer manner than usual. Fenghuang hated to admit it, but she was actually caring about this bird, why?She didn't know why.
Meanwhile...
Paol and Ruskin were running down the stairs, the only reason they were running was that Master Shifu and the Viper and Mantis were way in front already.
"Gez, next time tell them that we go first so they can catch up, not us!" Ruskin said, being obviously angry by the fact that he and Paol were staying behind and would get late to the fight.
"Well, told you we should have went down before they have even decide on do such, we're stealth experts, not speed experts."
"Whatever, just keep running, and watch for more of those damn fireballs, we barely missed few back there,"
"Aye,"
Meanwhile...
Master Shifu was on the lead with Mantis and Viper near him. Their main priority would be to engage the canons then go after to rescue the citizens. They were almost reaching the bottom of the stairs, right at that area they spotted several imperial troops keeping a defensive position. They had hundreds of soldiers in a very compressed area. Dai Lu Yan probably ordered them to keep a small stronghold at the location.
Shifu ordered his students to cover themselves before they could be in visual range. Using few small trees as cover they had to set a plan.
"That's a lot of them, what do you think Master Shifu?" Mantis asked the red panda hoping for a good way to assault the enemies without risking themselves too much.
Master Shifu stared at his students while thinking. There was no deny to the fact that numbers were totally against them, even so they had enough skills to make things even, but with such imperial soldiers that were far more better trained than the Furious Five usual enemies. Things weren't so simple. If they only could have Po, Tigress and Monkey back. Crane would have been extremely valuable due the excessive number of archers the imperial troops had.
"I wonder where the renegade boys are at?" Viper said casually while looking around. Mantis let out a chuckle.
"I'm sure they can hide but can't run that well,"
Meanwhile...
"OPEN FIRE!"
The landing for the renegades did not come as expected. Waves of imperial troops were at the edges of the main river, after realizing their position Zach ordered a full assault. Clouds of arrows were delivered against the imperials, killing hundreds in few seconds. Being taken by surprise the survivors ran away deep into their own lines while screaming for help. Dozens of renegades were at the village's most distant houses. They were cleaning up one by one. None of the imperials that were killed could even notice what happened. Few squad leaders from the imperial army gathered a counter-attack. The renegades lost their move forward and went to a stood while engaging at distance the enemy.
Trigger was moving along with a squad of wolves and a huge eagle. Po, Tigress and Monkey were admired by his size. They never saw a bird so big apart of Fenghuang or Crane. They made their moves at the flanks of the town. Mostly Trigger would kill whatever came in front of him, while in the case of Po, Tigress and Monkey was more about send the imperials flying away. The havoc they were causing was soon reaching all the corners of the village.
Most of the imperials that were being assault panicked when they saw how devastating was the impact the enemy could deliver. None of them were expecting a sudden all out war, dozens of warriors were abandoning their positions and trying to escape from the village.
Did not took too long for Dai Lu Yan to be informed about it. He ordered his troops to defend the canons at all cost. Even so his men didn't know that there were more canons that Dai Lu Yan was keeping. He only had brought those for testing. Now he found himself wondering who was the dangerous group that had infiltrated all of sudden and was killing so many of his troops. The jaguar couldn't care less though, he knew he could gather more troops later. If all those men here died it wouldn't make no difference for him. They were expendable.
After thirty-seven minutes over seventeen-hundred imperials were dead. The renegades suffered few of their own casualties as well. Trigger was leading his group towards the nearest canons that was still firing at the Jade Mountain.
Meanwhile...
Mei Ling watched carefully as another fireball exploded down at the staircases. She was at the courtyard studying the confusing developing down there. Her sensitive ears allowed her to her the several screams at distance. A terrifying view of the Valley of Peace being destroyed slowly. She heard metal clanging, after turning back she saw Shen coming at her. His expression was quite curious.
"Are you ready?I think we're already missing some fun," The peacock said with a smirk. Mei Ling felt uneasy. "Don't worry, I'm can't change everything in my way to be,"
"It's all good," She said while facing back towards the village."At least we have the advantage of being night."
The peacock watched her carefully. The cat was clearly tense and, if not, afraid.
"Remember when I told that I wouldn't make any promises about myself?" Shen suddenly asked. Mei Ling stared astonished at him.
"Hum...yeah...I do...but why..-
"We'll get what we need and save him...I promise."
Mei Ling couldn't help but smile.
"You're nothing like the men I met at Gongmen anymore, you changed. You're kinda sweet now."
Maybe the mountain cat was seeing things, but Shen's face had reddened all of sudden.
"S-Shut up y-you fool, now let's go down there already," He said somewhat embarrassed. Mei Ling chuckled.
"Oh, maybe someone has a sensitive side after all," She said playfully.
'Gods, I hope going down those stairs won't take too long' Shen though with himself while blushing.
A/N: Oh, well. I wanted badly to make more for this chapter, but things have to go on their own pace.