Lord Shen chuckled, his black beak twisted into a sadistic grin as he advanced toward the horrified snake. "It's been a long time since we've last seen, hasn't it... Master Viper?"

Every single fiber inside Viper's body trembled and the cold had nothing to do with it. She acted as if she looked straight at a ghost from her past who returned to haunt her. There he was. The one responsible for all the pain in China. The one who took away the life of her panda friend and broke the unity of the Jade Palace! The one who destroyed everything Kung Fu swore to protect! The one who killed the Emperor and brought nothing but death and misery on all of China's people! The one - The one...

"You!" Viper narrowed her jade green eyes and twisted her lips into a hateful expression. "What are you doing here in my village?!"

"Oh, just came for a little walk, taking fresh air and all that," the white peacock nonchalantly said, walking forward like on an afternoon walk. He then looked at the serpent with his eternal grin. "And then, since I passed around here, I told myself why wouldn't I come here and say hello to one of the last remaining Failure Five members." Shen's grin faded away in a split-second and got replaced by wide, insulted eyes. "You really think it did not cross my mind that you, Master Viper, would return to your home village that is also that of the legendary Great Master Viper?!"

"Get away from here!" Viper hissed as a warning. "You already took too much from this country! Too much from US! You really think taking the life of my father will satisfy your blood lust?! Never! You'll have to kill me first!"

The white peacock started laughing in amusement. "Do not worry, young serpent; I have nothing against your father." He then narrowed his red eyes at the female snake. "I'm here for YOU!" Then, without warning, he swung his wing and launched many throwing knives.

Viper didn't even had time to gasp before finding herself sliding to the side to avoid the sharp blades that went to engulf themselves into the ground. The fight started! Now was her only chance to take down this cruel bird, free China from the Peacock Army, but most importantly, avenge Po! Hissing, she started sliding her way toward Shen at full speed. She would wrap her body around his leg neck and snap it in one move before he could counter-attack.

The reptile dashed her way toward the avian, sliding his leg up while making sure not to cut herself onto his metal talons, and getting all the way up to his long neck. After wrapping one coil around it, she felt the moment arrive. The moment where she would kill Lord Shen, free China, and avenge her fallen friend.

... But that moment did not come for something held Viper back from making that simple gesture. Something wrapped around her upper body. Looking down, she found herself gasping upon seeing a grappling cable wrapped around her slim figure and connected to Shen's right wing. The peacock chuckled and pulled on the cable to force Viper off his body and onto the ground. Before she could slide to get some distance between them and wrestle against his cable, the poor serpent found herself pinned down under Shen's cold metal talons, her body getting pressed against the muddy ground and a throwing knife held at her throat.

Shen chuckled in amusement as he lowered his head next to Viper's ear. "You are much slower than that night you fought against my wolves in Gongmen," he mumbled. "Did your fight with my henchmen drain all the energy out of you?"

Reality then hit Viper and she widened her eyes. Her fight against the wolves just a few moments ago did indeed drain almost everything she had in her. The wise thing to do would have been to put some distance between Shen and herself and try to rely on sneak attacks while recovering her energy. But... she was so eager to make this cruel bird pay for everything he did that she did not take time to think. What an idiot she was!

The fallen snake gave the peacock a challenging glare. "Do it! Kill me and end this once and for all!" Even if she was to die today, she wouldn't go down like a wimp and beg this stupid bird for her life. She would join Po and honor her friends with pride!

However, to her surprise, Shen simply laughed and pulled his knife away from her throat. "Sorry to not accede to your request... but you will not die today."

"W-What?! Why? Why would you spare me? Am I different from all these other people you killed in your life?"

"Not exactly. However..." Shen grinned even more. "I have personal uses for you. I can't tell if you will enjoy them or not... but I can guarantee you it will be fun for me." These words were enough to send a shiver through Viper's body. The peacock then turned his head to the right and became serious again. "Shackle her up!"

Viper rose her eyebrow in confusion. Who was he talking to? Her question got answered as a familiar one-eyed wolf with coal-black fur jumped down from a tree branch. Carrying metal shackles in his paws, he advanced toward his lord and prisoner with a smirk on his lips. "Hello, little snake."

"W-Wolf Boss!" Viper angrily hissed.

"Himself, baby." Wolf Boss pulled the first shackle around the lower part of Viper's body. The metal was even colder than Shen's talons. He locked the second one higher around her neck level where Shen wasn't touching her and the peacock moved off her since she was now secured. The snake attempted to slide away, but, as she should have expected it, the shackles were pretty heavy, preventing her from moving fast. In addition, the shackles came with metal chains one could use as leashes. And this is exactly what Shen and Wolf Boss did, the former taking hold on the upper shackle while the latter took the one connected to her lower body.

"I must say you made an excellent first choice, sir," Wolf Boss complimented with a grin. "Snakes are known for being special... entertainers."

First choice? Entertainer? Viper did not understand what they were talking about and neither did she want to find out. She struggled against her bonds in a pitiful attempt to break free. "No! Let me go!"

"No! Not now! Or ever! You're mine now... and you shall like what I will do to you...," Shen softly said with a sinister smirk as he pulled the helpless snake closer to him and plunged his red eyes into her turquoise ones. "Let us go, Wolf Boss. We have a long trip back to Gongmen ahead of us..."


Minutes seemed to last hours for Lilly as she impatiently waited in her house, curled in the room she shared with her beloved mate. At least half an hour passed since said mate left to go battle the invaders along with her daughter. She knew fully well that they were renowned warriors who faced worst kinds of dangers before... but she couldn't stop herself from worrying about them. They were her family after all.

She felt worried mostly about Viper. Her daughter looked rather troubled before leaving the house with her father. Of course, being about to face the one who took almost everything away from her, one could understand. Lilly just hoped her daughter wouldn't let her memories get in the way of the fight. This could cost her her life. And Lilly knew she wouldn't be able to live on if she lost her precious daughter...

SHLACK!

As soon as she heard the sound of the door opening, Lilly shot her head up and slithered toward it. The first thing she saw brought her a lot of relief; her dear mate with no apparent injuries - he did look tired from the fighting but that wouldn't kill him. Lilly's relief quickly turned into worry, once again, for she noticed a detail that bothered her.

"Where's Viper?"

Great Master Viper's eyes zeroed down to the ground, reflecting what could only be described as sadness. Lilly's eyes slowly widened. No. This couldn't mean what she thought it meant. It couldn't be possible! It just couldn't!

"We had to separate to fight the two legions in the enemies' ranks," her husband softly said. He closed his eyes as his mouth trembled a bit. "After taking down the enemies on my side, I went to check for her. I found the remains of the ones she was to defeat... but I did not find her anywhere. However, I did find this." Great Master Viper showed a few small blades that looked like feathers. Even Lilly knew the only animal in China who could use these.

"I-It can't be...?!"

"The truth cannot be denied," Great Master Viper firmly said. "Lord Shen came here during the battle and took on our daughter. If so is the case..." He closed his eyes, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "... I'm afraid... that Viper... did not survive..."

Lilly's heart broke at this very moment. The world around her came to a stop. The seconds seemed to last an eternity... before Lilly's whole being got filled with pain and the tears started flowing out like waterfalls.

"My daughter... no..."