"How did this happen? Can someone please tell me how this sort of thing could have happened?" Crane asked repeatedly as he flew above the massive crowd of rhino guards that swarmed the area. He was the only one visibly annoyed with the situation because they were NOT supposed to draw attention. Of course, Po being Po, that possibility was not very likely.

They were risking their safety for a Lin Kuei member, who wasn't really a Lin Kuei member. He had saved Mrs. Yoon's life in a situation where she certainly wouod have died. That gave Po enough of a reason to lend him a paw.

Which lead to a bit of conflict with the guards after a few harsh words were exchanged. Crane didn't want this. The others we're too occupied to care, however, which left his complaints unheard.

Mei Ling dashed past many of them and hit their sides with her staff, leaving them open to vicious kicks from Mantis. He swiped last them with multiple blurs, which made it look like they we're being attacked by nothing. The indents of tiny feet in their cheeks were the only indicstion they could perceive before they were launched away a far distance.

Monkey was more for avoiding all they threw at him. He sat on a roof while staring down at the complaining rhinos trying to reach him to no avail. "Hey...you guys realize you're working for a fish...right? A freaking fish."

"You outsiders continue to badmouth Mistress Mugan?! She is one of the most revered and well-respected Kung Fu Masters in all of China! You should-" The rhinos stopped ranting when they saw Monkey balancing on his tail and scratching his head with one paw and scratching his back with the other. "...Are you even listening?!"

"Huh? Oh, sorry about that. I was too busy not caring."

"YOU STUPID APE!"

"Noooo, my name is MONKEY. Sheesh, they never get it right." Monkey shook his head as one of them threw a lance at him, which he dodged easily. He noticed a second one coming his way, this time dodging by back flipping with ease. When another one came his way, he caught it with his tail. "Oh...so close." He tossed it upwards, as Peng jumped up and caught it in midair.

"Here, you can have it back!" He tossed it right into the center of the group he faced, scaring the wits out of them when actual cracks formed in the ground upon impact. Then Peng came down himself feet first, knocking one of them out and making him crash into one of his allies. They will recoiled a bit when he effortlessly caught another lance and through it right back at them, almost slashing one of them on accident. Peng definitely intimidated them. He noticed Lian was jumping off of their heads and knocking them inti the ground, repeating the process with each new rhino in her way. He smiled a bit, which she noticed and returned.

"What's with those two!? We can't even get near them!" One of the groups shouted in shock. The attention went to Po and Viper, the latter being securely wrapped around his neck whike his eyes were shadowed by his hat. Every time one of them tried to attack Po, Viper would lash out with her tail acting as a painful whip to one part of their body they would hold in pain, and Po would go in and knock them out. It didn't help that either of them could take these rhinos out on their own. Po continues to deliver crushing blows to each rhino that he passed by, usually knocking a few of them out in the process.

One of them tried to pry Viper away from Po in an attempt to weaken their cooperation. This was met with a black furred fist shattering his jaw and sending him spiralling into the house across from them. It was then and there that the rhinos were smart enough to call it quits when it's been made clear they weren't arresting anyone. Po backed up as he showed his eyes to them.

"...Beat it."

That was all they needed. They scrambled and fell over one another as they tried to get away from the warriors that obviously outclassed them.

"See, why can't all thugs be that smart?" Lian asked.

"Becuase many of them aren't weak." Peng answered her honestly.

Po took a deep breath and sighed. And just like that, his seriousness was gone. "Whew...they weren't much of an issue, were they?"

"They we're just the patrollers, Po. We would have had a few issues if we ran into the actual palace guards. They might be just a bit tougher." Viper informed him.

"Meh. We'll be fine. We'll totally be fine." Po waved it off, making his sister figure sigh. "Anywaayy...how ya doing, canine buddy?" He turned towards Ànyǐng, who was watching the entire thing while keeping close to Mrs. Yoon.

"Uh...thanks for helping me, I guess? But why would you suddenly burst in helping me despite the consequences that are very much possible?" He asked.

"Eh. We'll worry about that when we get to that part." Po shrugged. "So, should we get going back to our friends? We're totally safe for the moment. Until Mugan sends some more guards after us, that is. Can't attack her head-on if we're dealing with her guards."

"I STILL think that's a terrible idea!" Crane shouted.

"Oh relax, Crane. It can't be that bad." Monkey shrugged as he followed Po and the others away from the area where they caused the chaos. Crane could only sigh as he covered his face.

"Now then, I believe we have a lot to talk about." Mrs. Yoon patted Ànyǐng's leg, gaining his attention, and a nervous smile.

(Meanwhile)

"Have a nice day, everyone!" Mr. Ping waved to the entire crowd as they all left with full stomachs and much better attitudes. His grin was as wide as ever, and he turned to his friends. "I appreciate the assistance. You can all take a breather-"

"Zzzzzz...zzzzzz..." Bian Ziao didn't need to be told twice. He promptly placed his apron on the noodle cart and passed out on the ground, snoring away his exhaustion. Taotie sighed as he sat down and rubbed his forehead.

"Shifu...I really do wish my son was more like your daughter. Actually being more active...and other stuff..."

"Lazy Ass has been trying his hardest to help Mr. Ping out with this. So I think he deserves a bit of relaxing for the moment." Fenghuang said, preening her feathers. Then she burped in an unladylike fashion. "He does have his skill in cooking. Maybe he could learn a thing or two."

"Do you even care one bit about manners?" Shifu asked with a sigh. "I already know the answer, and yet I keep asking in a sense of false hope..."

"I wouldn't see it as false hope. More like hopeful persistence. Eventually you'll get an answer you like. Maybe. I dunno." Song shrugged as she sat in a chair with her parasol over her head. "But it really was nice to feed all of these people."

"And there was plenty left for us, which is also cool." Fung added, licking his chops. "Having plenty leftover to feed ourselves after feeding like one part of a neighborhood of people is definitely a win-win."

Tigress folded her arms. "As long as we're doing good, our own pleasantries should probably remain second." She says with a serious face...right before licking noodle juice from her lips. "Now that we've pleased the crowd, they seem a bit happier now. So that's excellent progress on it's own."

Fung tapped his chin a bit, then groaned in aggravation. "Aw man...we forgot to ask them what was the deal with this Valley in the first place!"

"Hold on. We were only supposed to be passing by. I know it's unfortunate for them, but we can't get involved in a Master's business with the status we have. It'll be disastrous at a later time, I'm sure." Shifu said.

"Have a bit more faith, will ya?" Fenghuang yawned. "They'll be fine. So long as our faces aren't seen, we'll be alright. It won't matter too much of their faces are seen. No one here knows them. But they know us. Which one will be more disadvantageous to us, I wonder?" She said under her cloak.

Shifu also made sure his hooded-cloak his his face, as he stroked his beard again. "They'll be seen as suspicious citizens alright. My guess is our kind of visit seems a bit too mysterious. But on the other hand, if Master Mugan hears about the two of us appearing in her Valley, she'll use all of her resources in order to eliminate us with extreme prejudice."

"She'd really go through with that crap?" Fung asked, curiously. "Why would she do something like that just to get rid of the two of you?"

Fenghuang made a small wave gesture with her wings. "Look at us kid, we're Kung Fu Rogues who left the honors of Kung Fu for the others. She doesn't take kindly to those who back out like that."

Shifu nodded. "It's true. She takes it even more seriously than I ever could. Exceot if it doesn't meet to her likings, she criticizes it greatly. I used to hold a great amount of respect for her...but I changed my mind." He clenched Oogway's staff. "And I'm glad I did. It allowed me to see her true colors..."

"True colors...?" Mr. Ping asked curiously.

"Lemme break it down for you." Fenghuang offered. "She puts the 'Alpha' in Alpha Bitch."

"...Oh."

"It's not an exaggeration, Mr. Ping. She thinks she's a better Kung Fu Master than she really is. She always puts others down because it doesn't suit her 'views' on it. Anything that doesn't meet her satisfaction is merely scum to her. And that's everyone who has ever tried to learn from her." Fenghuang sighed. "I at least know when I'm lacking something. Plus spending the years with you and Po mellowed me out a bit, not gonna lie. But she wants to view herself as some sort of sage, when she's clearly NOT."

Fung sat up a bit after hearing her out. "Wow...she sounds seriously unpleasant."

"It's because she is. Plain and simple." Tigress growled. "She has no resoect for people's hard-earned efforts. That and my own personal experience meeting her...I can't stand people like her. I might never be able to."

"Oh yeah. You and Shifu we're kinda grinding your teeth whenever you mentioned her. You two have some personal grudge against Master Mugan or something, do you?"

Tigress and Shifu looked far off, at the Garnet Palace where Master Mugan resides, quietpy glaring at it with resentment. This was all Fung needed to confirm his theory, hut he still doesn't have any idea as to why they would intensely dislike her, besides the attitude they described her with. Though the dislike seems to be stemming much more strongly from Tigress for some reason. He also noticed that Zeng shifted nervously every time her name was mentioned. There was no doubt about it, something has definitely went down between them.

"We probably won't figure out too much if we stick around too long. I'm gonna go search around." Song said as she stood up and picked up her parasol. "Fung, you wanna come with me?"

"W-Wha?!" Fung sputtered in surprise. "Do I have to?"

"Why not? For the time being we're pretty much in the dark. Plus we've all eaten and rested well enough."

Fung blushed slightly as Song tilted her head slightly in wonder of his nervousness. Looking away seemed to be his only remedy for the blush on his face. "Aaaahhm...well...it would be easier for you to go on your own, you know. You're much sneakier than I am. While I can be a bit sneaky myself, I'd hold you up."

Song seemed to accept this excuse, as she sighed with her ears slightly folded. "Guess I'm going in solo. I can make do with that." She shrugged as she used her parasol to give her shade and walk away casually.

"Hey! You better not steal anything while we're not watching you." Tigress warned.

"Oh come on, Tigress! Po trusts me fully, why can't you?"

"Because she's many times smarter than he is." Fenghuang deadpanned. No one spoke up to argue with the truth.

"...Okay you've got me there. But just be a pal and trust me anyway, kay?" Song smiled cheerfully as she turned and continued on her way, with a skeptical Tigress watching her leave.

"It'll be fine, Tigress. Sometimes we just gotta take risks." Fung said.

Tigress sighed as she rubbed her neck. "With our current status, risk-taking is kind of a necessity."

"Excuse me. I was told that someone was serving noodles around here?"

Tigress turned around to the source of the voice. Then her eyes widened. She recognized this goat very easily. His eyes were yellow-brown, fur color was tan, he wears a gold tunic with maroon and cream accents.

"Wu Yong."

The goat's eyes brightened at the sight of her. "I recognize those stripes, those eyes, AND that scarf. It's you, Tigress?!" Tigress practically pounced upon Wu Yong and hugged him tightly and happily. Relief also seemed to emit from the sight of this goat. "And the strength...you're Tigress alright..."

"Wu Yong. I can't believe I'm actually seeing you again!" Tigress happily stated. "I mean, I knew you'd be around somewhere, but I didn't think we'd run into one another."

"Wu Yong! You're okay!" Zeng said gleefully.

Shifu nodded. "I'm glad you're alright, despite what's happened."

Wu Yong nodded and bowed to the three of them. "Master Shifu...Tigress...Zeng. it's wonderful to see the three of you. Especially you, Tigress. You've matured into quite a young woman." He saw her blush in response to this, and he chuckled lightly. "And you're still just as shy as I last saw you. Just as well, I see you've brought some friends. However I didn't expect one of them to be Master Fenghuang."

"Well damn. Look who's so smart to figure that out so quickly." Fenghuang rolled her eyes.

"Not to worry, I'm not planning to tell anyone of your presence here. I honestly just wanted some noodles." Wu Yong grinned.

Mr. Ping smiled. "Bah, I've got plenty of material to spare. Why not?"

Quickly, a bowl of noodles have been served to Wu Yong, and he was seen eating them enthusiastically. "This amazing!" He grinned cheerfully. "Now I'm supposing that you all would like to know how me, Shifu, Tigress, and Zeng know each other." He then looked down at Bian Ziao, who was still sleeping away. "Besides this young man right here..."

"Oh. Thats just Lazy Ass. Don't mind him." Fenghuang waved.

"My son is most definitely NOT lazy! He's just...highly motivated to not to do anything." Taotie weakly defended.

"...that's laziness."

"No it isn't!"

"Anyway..." Fung interrupted them both to make sure attention is back on Wu Yong. "Mind telling us the story now?"

"Right. The story." Wu Yong sighed. "It's gonna explain a lot about how the dynamics between us and Master Mugan have been dramatically affected by our interactions. Tigress opened my eyes to what kind of person Mugan really was...but it was too late for me to do anything about it. As a result, I've received quite a long lasting injury...and it sparked a grudge within Tigress. A powerful one."

"Indeed." Shifu sighed. "Master Mugan and her servants came to visit the Jade Palace and stayed with us for a month. Tigress was fifteen at the time...

(Seven Years Ago)

"I still have a few kinks to work out. But other than that, I should be doing fine." Tigress said as she wiped sweat from her forehead. She had been spending quite a lot of time balancing her overwhelming strength between knowing when to restrain it and knowing when to release it into her strikes. So far, she had completely devastated her training dummies on one end, and left some mostly intact on the other. She was definitely improving.

She went over to the rack near the entrance to the training room and wiped her sweat off with a towel Zeng always made sure he left behind for her. She places it back on the rack, and puts on her scarf. Whenever she's doing truly strenuous training, or when she was eating, she would take her scarf off in order to not damage it too much. It was her only connection to Po besides her memories, and she was not going to let it get tainted for any reason whatsoever.

And speaking of eating...thanks to having tasted Mr. Ping's cooking for an entire week before his departure with Po and Fenghuang, Tigress had been eating much more than she usually did ever since then. Tasting Mr. Ping's food at seven years old, and she still misses it dearly. Though it did persuade her to more often. She was usually a bit too timid to eat a lot, but now she's grown much more confident. She heard(from a distance) from some women in the Valley of Peace that they don't usually eat much in order to keep their figure. She didn't understand the big issue. When there was enough to go around, she usually stuffed herself after a hard day of training. Sure she wasn't as big an eater as Po, but it was definitely noticeable. And she never gained any weight from it, not that she noticed or cared much. Most who have seen her wonder how she hasn't gained weight, and where that food actually goes besides her stomach.

...she did feel her chest getting a bit heavier without her wrap on...maybe...nah.

Tigress turned to the sound of flapping noises as she heard Zeng fly into the room...and smack into one of the pillars because he didn't stop himself in time. She watched with a sweatdrop as he slowly slid down onto the floor and then hold his beak in pain.

"Gagh...that hurt...that hurts a lot...I really messed up that landing..." Zeng groaned. Tigress rolled her eyes and helped the goose stand up. "Thank you, Tigress. I come crashing in here sometimes because I always try to get here quickly, only to hurt myself on the landing..."

"It's alright, Zeng." Tigress sent him a warm smile, which made him feel a bit better. "Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh! Right! Master Shifu sent for you to meet him in the Hall of Warriors. We have a special guest!"

"Special guest...?" Tigress repeated. "What kind of guest?"

"Ah...I dunno, really. He just said that it was important. Come on, let's go!" Zeng hurried her along, much to her confusion. Realizing she wasn't getting much answers from him, she decided to just follow through for now.

A couple minutes later, Tigress, Zeng, and Shifu we're waiting in front of the doors for their guest to arrive. "Father...who is this guest that's coming here?"

"Ah. Her name is Mugan. Master Mugan." Shifu stated. "She is a very well-respected and revered Kung Fu Master, known all over China. It's quite interesting that she's taken her time to come here, as she very rarely leaves her Palace. This makes her very mysterious."

"Mysterious, huh?" Tigress repeated slowly, her gaze returning to the doors.

When another few wandering minutes passed by, the doors have finally opened. A group of goats were escorting some cloaked box through the doors, as they set it down gently in the middle of the floor. Each of them then stepped away from it a bit, before pulling on the sheet cost along the box. Tigress was honestly surprised that there was a fish inside of it. The box was more like a fish tank. And within the tank, the fish opened her cold green eyes. Her scale colors consisted of orange, black, and white. Her long flowing fins waved slowly in the water, keeping her in one place at all times.

Anyone would consider Mistress Mugan as a majestic and beautiful creature of a kind.

Tigress however, thought differently. Something about Mugan's gaze greatly unnerved her. It's as if she was analyzing the tiger right where she was standing, as if she were determining her worth toher. Needless to say that Tigress definitely did not like it. Nonetheless, she was polite enough to bow to her in respect, like Shifu and Zeng were doing. Her head turned slightly to see one of the goats taller than the others, and much stronger. He looked strong, he felt strong, and judging by his position right by Mugan's side, she took a wild guess that he was her star student.

However, she didn't miss the faraway look in his eyes. Its as if he's physically at his peak and growing, yet he was completely and utterly drained on the inside. If she didn't focus on it, she'd have missed it beforehand. Mugan didn't seem to care how spiritually exhausted her star student looked.

Tigress was not one to disagree with her father often. But where he saw a very well-known Kung Fu Master, she sensed serious trouble.

"Greetings, Master Mugan. It isn't often that you take the time to leave your Palace in order to visit another." Shifu greeted politely.

"It's of no trouble. I was merely curious and wondering how the Valley of Peace is faring. From what I hear, you lot have quite the unfortunate luck." She replied. Tigress's eyes narrowed further. Even her voice was sending her warning signs. There was definitely a condescending tone in there somewhere when she mentioned the Valley of Peace's lack of good luck. "If it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to speak to you in private."

"Of course. Tigress, Zeng." Shifu gestured for them to leave, earning a sigh from them as left out the door.

"That's far enough, Wu Yong. Wait for me outside." Mugan stated emotionlessly. The goat nodded and made his way out the same door the other two walked out of. When he closed the doors behind him, he almost fell forward inti the ground. The exhaustion was safe to be shown without her wandering eyes. Tigress and Zeng we're fast enough to keep him from hitting the ground.

"H-Hey, are you alright?!" Zeng quacked in surprise of how fast the goat almost completely passed out.

"Ugh...I'm sorry...it's just that...my body's a bit exhausted, you see. And I have to hide it from Master Mugan at any cost." Wu Yong said, getting into a small coughing fit. Tigress gently patted his back and waited for him to recover and continue. "I think...it's finally beginning to be too much for me to handle."

"Wait...have you ever taken a break before?" Zeng asked.

"Of course I take breaks. No one of my level can train for a full twenty-four hours. However, my training is so intense and so severe that it hardly matters if I rest or not."

"That doesn't sound good for you at all." Tigress narrowed her eyes. "Maybe you should rest for a long while as the Masters are talking. I think it would be best for you."

"You don't need to worry about me...I'm fine..."

"I think we can agree to disagree." Tigress said with finality as she picked up the goat with ease and carried him over to the barracks. He was slightly surprised that she could lift be my so easily. He wasn't the lightest person ever, so it came to a shock that she would be able to do it as if he were. He was pretty helpless as she carried him over to her room amd set him down. "There. You can rest up here."

Wu Yong looked around, as if expecting something from it. He noticed the raised eyebrow from Tigress, and shook his head. "Sorry. It's not meant to be an insult...but I thought your room would have much more to it."

"I'm not exactly skilled at being feminine, if that's what you mean." Tigress deadpanned.

"No no, it's not that at all, I swear!" He shook his head rapidly, earning small chuckles from Tigress and Zeng. He groaned a little before he noticed the scarf wrapped around her neck, and pointed to it. "That's a rather nice scarf you have."

"Oh, this?" Tigress ran a paw across the soft fabric, smiling a little. "Yeah...it was a Winter Festival gift from my very first friend. I've sworn to myself that I'd always hang onto it, no matter what. That was my first present from a friend and my first present in general as well, so I really feel like I should be wearing it around constantly. It sounds a bit weird at first, but the feeling is definitely there."

"Is that so?" Wu Yong smiled. "From a friend. The way you're saying it, you make it sound like a prsent given from one lover to another."

Tigress's eyes widened and she blushed. "W-What?! N-N-No way is that the case. I was just really grateful for the present!" She lowered her ears. "Although I did kiss his forehead before he left...but that's some sort of farewell gesture, isn't it?"

"It's also seen as a romantic gesture if you squint." Zeng smiled.

"You're not helping, Zeng. You're REALLY not helping." Tigress sent a small glare his way, before turning her attention back to Wu Yong. "So what's going on with you? You said something about being heavily exhausted. You still look like it, by the way."

"Yes well...Mistress Mugan has a rather...severe training régime that really takes a toll on the body. Of course I can endure it for as long as possible, this is what I asked for. I'm not one to go back on my word."

"But can't she cut you a better break that what she's giving you? You were about to collapse if we didn't catch you!" Tigress said, finding new reasons to dislike Mugan as he keeps telling her these things. "She can't just force someone to keep on going when they're at their limit. That kind of training can severely harm your body! You we're about to collapse a couple moments ago if I didn't catch you in time!"

Wu Yong sighed. "I might get a bit more exhausted than other days...but I can endure it."

"...No. No you can't." Tigress said strongly, getting a surprised look from him. "I know you know this. If you keep going like this, you'll fall apart from the inside. You're working far too hard if you can keep yourself standing. I at least know when it's time to stop, and Father knows it too. He always stops me when he knows I need a break, because he cares about my health. Does Master Mugan ever give you a proper break that properly rejuvenates your body?"

Wu Yong sighed a bit, she was a persistent one. "No. When I'm awake and able to move, I train. I asked to be trained like this, so she doesn't care about how bad my condition is. She expects me to continue on, regardless of what becomes of me. No compliments. No positive reinforcement. No mercy. Just the path to a perfect warrior. Anything less...is not worth her time. I want to be worth her time..."

The words 'perfect warrior' struck her mind in a negative light. Zeng sensed her tense up, and he knew why. Her eyes shadowed over in anger, which didn't go unnoticed by Wu Yong. "...She's not a good Master, Wu Yong."

"What?!"

"You're telling me she likes Kung Fu to be mastered at the greatest precision, to the point of perfection. Me personally...I don't believe in perfection."

"Tigress...?"

"I always strive to become better than I was before. But perfection...that's a losing battle right at the start, Wu Yong. There is no such thing as a perfect warrior. No matter how hard one tries, that kind of status can't be attained." She clenched her fists. "Tai Lung was trying to aim for that kind of status in order to become the Dragon Warrior. Hearing that he trained so hard for nothing...it didn't end well for any of us. Trying to attain something like that can only end badly. So you see, Master Mugan is utterly delusional if she thinks such a warrior exists."

"Tigress. I know Mugan can be very harsh, but she's only-"

"OPEN YOUR EYES WU YONG!" Tigress roared, startling the goat and scaring Zeng. "Look at you! You could fall apart at any second and she won't even care! How can I tell? She's been training you for years, and you said she hasn't praised you ONCE. Her arrogance is absolutely astounding if she actually thinks that she can train someone like that! There's no reason for you to break yourself for someone like her!"

Wu Yong's eyes widened in surprise as he listened to her rant. It appears that Mugan's way of teaching was poking at her childhood trauma involving Tai Lung. The strive for perfection forced his heart into darkness, and she witnessed what that kind of obsession does to people who CAN endure it. The main difference that Shifu didn't intentionally drive Tai Lung to that point. Mugan simply didn't care about her students, period.

And that angered her rather than make her afraid.

"Tigress. Master Mugan would like to see you." Shifu said as he slid her door open. Tigress growled quietly as she calmly walked past her father. The angered steps were not missed by him, and he wondered what could be the matter.

Tigress eventually found herself face-to-face with Master Mugan, who was again had that analyzing look in her eyes. "Tigress, is it? Master Shifu has told me quite a lot about you. You show a lot of promise as a warrior."

"I suppose that's not really a compliment, right?" Tigress said distastefully. This made Mugan quirk her eyebrows in amusement.

"You already know how I operate? That will make this much easier then." Tigress folded her arms and waited. "Master Shifu has been through wuite the trauma losing his orevious student to the folds of darkness, due to not having enough discipline pounded into his skull. He thought he was ready for a title that was never within his reach in the first place." Tigress narrowed her eyes at this. "Without discipline and proper precision, one can never become a great warrior, like he aspired to be. That's why he was reduced to what he is now. Which brings me to my offer."

Tigress again raised an eyebrow. "Offer...?"

"It's quite simple. Its been made clear that Shifu is incompetent at properly training his students. He made the mistake of bonding so deeply with his students that he didn't have the steel mind to let him know that he can never get overconfident. It deeply corrupted his better judgement. I can save you from a fate like that. Train under me and I can help you reach your potential. You have such raw talent, it'd be wasted on someone like Shifu who wastes time trying to achieve emotional bonds with his students. That emotinal connection prevents people from reaching their potential." Mugan grinned. "Yes...I can see it now. You'll be the perfect replacement for my previous student, who is beginning to really outlive his usefulness."

Now Tigress was mentally grinding her teeth together. First Mugan bad mouths her brother for trying to be a great warrior, then accused her father of being a terrible teacher just for trying to bond with his students, and now she was asking her to replace Wu Yong. She had no regard for his feelings, or even his life. She was willing to throw him away without a second thought, in favor of someone better.

She could never allow herself to be a student to someone like that.

"Sorry Master Mugan...but I'm going to have to turn you down on that offer." The fish's servants gasped at her blatant refusal to Mugan's offer. She narrowed her eyes at this.

"Is that so? For the record, I'm not used to being denied something I want."

"There's a first time for everything." Tigress shrugged. "Besides, why should I become a student if someone who works their disciples until they literally break their bodies under the strain?"

"Its my way of doing things. If they break under the strain of my training, they were never meant to be great warriors in the first place."

"And that's the exact reason why I wouldn't ever wanted to be taught under someone like you. Sorry, but I'm not interested." Tigress huffed.

Mugan seemed highly irritated at her answer and her attitude while delivering it. It was then she spotted Wu Yong coming out of the corner and bowing to her. They spoke to one another, did they? He told her things...this will not go unpunished. "Very well. If that's your answer, then I'll be taking my leave. Wu Yong, we're leaving." Without another word, the goats began carrying Mugan out of the palace, with a bit of a worried look from Wu Yong. Before she was actually left though, Mugan left these stinging words:

"Its that lack of discipline...that creates worthless scum like your brother."

It took up most of Tigress's willpower to not charge at her and shatter that glass she was swimming in...

(Flashback End)

"Wow. There is some serious bad blood between you two." Fung said after they were done.

"And it looks like she took it out on Wu Yong." Shifu stated as he noticed the tighter wrappings around the goat's leg.

"She heavily tightened the already strict training regime as a response to Tigress's vehement denial. It got more difficult to keep up...until I dislocated and injured my leg." Wu Yong's ears lowered. "I'll probably never perform Kung Fu again. She was disgusted with me, and lowered me to a mere palace servant without much care. You we're right all along, Tigress."

Tigress clenched her fists. "If she has a problem with me, she should say it to my face! Not take it out on someone else! She did this to you just to spite me!"

"It's not just me. She makes sure this entire Valley is living as she says they should, and she won't hear any objections."

"What if I have an objection?" They turned to see Po with a raised paw, the others gathered around him, and the wolf prisoner being one of the new additions. "I kinda went against her code and set this innocent wolf free."

"I don't know what you did, Po. But I'm sure it will soring bad luck desoite being a good deed. Kind of." Shifu sighed. "I believe you have a lot of explaining to do..."

(Meanwhile)

Song was casually walking down an alleyway, sighing in exhaustion. "Bah...all these people are dull and none of them are talking. How am I supposed to get info now?"

"...Song."

"!" Song turned around instantly to see two snow leopards just like her, but slightly shorter, a d they too have parasols shadowing their eyes.

"Playtime is over, Song. It's time for you to return, it's urgent."

All of a sudden, the emotion drained from Song's face, as she held her parasol over her shoulder and nodded emotionlessly. "Understood. I'll be back as soon as I can. I have a couple things to finish up here." The two snow leopards seemed to accept this answer, as they disappeared into the shadows.

Song sighed heavily. "I was beginning to really like those guys, too. How they're always causing a ruckus and such..it's never boring to travel with them. Maybe when I'm finished with my business, I can ask to rejoin them. Po should be okay with that..."

"Stop right there! Who are you?!" A rhino guard shouted at her from the other side of the alleyway. She slowly turned around, with her eyes lowered and slitted. "Where are you-"

SLASH!

"GAH!" He fell to the ground, blood dripping from his chest as three claw marks we're now visible. He was then forcibly knocked down by a swift parasol swing, and he fell to the ground. Groaning in pain, he attempted to reach for his axe, but a foot stepped on his hand, hindering his efforts.

"Don't you know that it's rude to sneak up on a lady like that?" Song said slyly, as she stared down at the helpless rhino. "I can't exactly have you blabbing on to your friends about me, or trying to put further trouble on my own friends."

"What...what's that supposed to mean...?"

"Two words." Song closed up her parasol and picked up a nearby brick, as she wore a cheerful smile. "Goodnight."

The rhino felt the brick smash into his head with brutal force, and he lost consciousness...