Author's Note: Well, well. Looks like I already have a sequel to fragile hearts in mind... Heh heh. Anyways, I will say immediately that this is not involving Nuba herself. Her story is already finished. Instead this is going to have a different villain. One other thing, this is the second story in a trilogy. Yes, once I'm done with this one, I've already got a final one planned. I've got the general idea for where the story will go, just gotta figure out a few kinks and stuff so yeah, this might take longer than last time, but we'll see. Anyways, if you liked the dark parts of fragile hearts then you'll probably like this first part.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KUNG FU PANDA (If I did then... Well... It would be pretty cool.)

Enjoy.

To Fight Against Fate

Reflected within the still waves of the ocean is the sun's beaming light, not a single cloud blocking its burning sight. This celestial body watches over the calm sea that stretches on for miles, not a single speck of land that can be seen by the naked eye. Accompanying this is nothing but the subtle motions of the water, the tiny waves being its only separation from the blue sky above. Nature's tranquil scene is soon joined by a new entity, a large, triple decker ship with pure white sails, adorned with the golden face of a phoenix. The symbol of the emperor of China. This imperial vessel elegantly glides across the calm waters, creating a picturesque scene, one that any painter would dream of capturing. For the inhabitants of the ship however, it is far from this ideal picture.

Over a dozen rhino guards can be seen patrolling the top deck of the ship, keeping a keen eye out for any threats. Some of them shiver at the chillingly cold autumn breeze, its iciness deceptively hidden by its gentleness. Others maintain their composure, though their body still tenses up. Regardless of their armour, the breeze cuts right into it like a knife piercing through flesh. The only soldier to not have this problem is the group's resident navigator, too focused on steering the boat in the right direction to care about the weather.

"Hey!" Keeping his eyes on the light blue horizon, the navigator notices a dark grey rhino soldier with heavy duty armour making his way towards the door leading to the lower decks. "D'you know where the captain is?" He calls out, his deep voice unapologetically bursting through the once silent day.

The navigator thinks on this question for a split second, "Should be having lunch, I think." He is given a thumbs up in response before the dark grey rhino makes his way inside. A snort escapes the navigator as he continues steering the ship, envious his comrade being able to go inside in this deceivingly cold freezing weather. He takes a glance on the port side of the ship for a mere moment before turning his head forward again, swearing on his life that he could see something far in the distance but giving it little mind. Perhaps the cold was getting to him already.

Meanwhile, the dark grey rhino begins to head down the vast interior of the ship at a hurried pace, silently praying that he hasn't kept his captain waiting. He speeds through the first deck, skipping past the armoury and sleeping quarters whilst accidentally waking up a few of his comrades. Though he is in a rush, he does appreciate the cosy warmth brought by the torches hung up on the walls. Once going down another flight of stairs he finds himself near the crowded mess hall of the ship, a massive assortment of rhino and leopard guards filling up most of the seats within. He wanders through the assorted crowds of soldiers, coldly ignoring the few comrades that attempt to strike a conversation with him. His hardened facial expression softens slightly at the alluring aroma filling his nostrils, the food from the imperial cooks tempting his stomach. This is brushed off with a swift shake of the head and an unflinching stare towards a lone table near the backend of the hall.

Seated at that table is none other than the captain of the ship, a well-built white rhino dressed in a black version of the usual imperial garb with the emperor's symbol painted on his right shoulder pauldron. A plate of empty grub lays on the table, seemingly eaten in a hurry. His grey eyes look back towards the armoured rhino staring towards him and he nods his head, getting out of his seat as he does so. Whilst most captains would sit within the captain's cabin to eat, he always preferred to sit with his men, to be humbled rather than pampered. "Took you long enough." A grizzly voice emanates from the white rhino, decades on the battlefield embedded within his tone.

"Apologies, sir. I was patrolling on the top deck, sir." With a respectful bow, the armoured rhino states his case as his superior opens a door a short distance away from the table he had once sat on.

"Right." The captain motions his comrade towards the door as the two head towards a new destination. "So, there was nothing strange, I hope." His comrade's response is a curt shake of the head. With an affirmative hum, grey orbs look down towards the end of the hall as the two rhinos walk past the toiletries. "Are you ready for the interrogation?" A cold inquiry seeps out of the captain, his eyes burning holes into the metallic door awaiting them right at the end of the hall, right next to the stairs leading towards the bottom deck.

A boyish smile crosses the face of the armoured rhino as he cracks his knuckles together, "You bet, sir…" He trails off slightly, remembering the state they had caught the prisoners in and bringing a question that had been nagging his mind ever since they had captured them. "Although, with complete respect, why are you interrogating them, sir? I mean, I think it's pretty open and shut. The guys were hiding ten of their 'friends' with them… Um, sir." He adds at the end, hoping that the captain won't snap at him for questioning his decision.

Grey orbs look upon the armoured rhino intensely, though they don't show any particular anger. "Zhongcheng* has been running from us for… decades now, and then all of a sudden we find him hiding the exact people we're trying to find?" A sceptical look fills the captains face as he poses this question to the armoured soldier, "It can't be a coincidence."

Another inquiry pops into the armoured rhino's mind at his superior's response, "Is that why you didn't send the messenger out, sir?"

At this question, the white rhino curtly nods his head, "I just want to be sure about everything before we send word out. On the bright side, it'll be a nice surprise for the emperor, huh?" Cheeky grins fill the faces of both rhinos as they chuckle at the absurdity of their luck.

"Let's see." The armoured rhino mumbles to himself, curious as to how many prisoners they have aboard their ship. "So, we got two in that room." He points to the metal door that they inch ever closer to, "And… How many in the bottom deck, sir?"

A devious smile covers the white rhino's face as he proudly answers, "Two hundred." Wide eyes are the only response that can be given by the armoured rhino, "Yeah… Shen's boys have been running for a long time, but now… They're gonna get what they deserve." A venomous hatred begins to burn his tone as he remembers the deranged peacock's attempt to seize Gongmen. Though he was confirmed dead, his followers that were present then… Not so much. Unfortunately for the captain, he and his men had been tasked with finding the ones that had escaped past the borders of China. Across the seas towards small uninhabited islands and massive lands whose citizens had little knowledge of what those wolves were involved in. After finding so many of them within a year and six months of Shen's attempted conquest, the emperor and his council had granted them the pleasure of heading back home. A pleasure that all men on the ship were beyond relieved to hear.

"Well said, sir." A solemn voice pours out of the armoured rhino, equally enraged at the audacity of the manic peacock and his band of wolves. They stop walking as they reach the thick metallic door, the white rhino pulling out a key and inserting it into the keyhole. The click of the door unlocking echoes throughout the hollow corridor, bringing with it an uncanny sense of dread. Neither soldier understanding why they feel this, they look each other in the eye and nod, silently warning each other to be cautious. As the captain opens the door, a hideous, creak bellows from its hinges, ominously beckoning the captain inside as the armoured rhino stays out for guard duty.

Dark, claustrophobic, and cold; There is no décor or homeliness to the interrogation room, merely a lone wooden desk, 3 chairs, and a single orange lantern dimly lighting the room. Clang! The sickening sound of the metal door shutting booms into the eardrums of each person inhabiting the room. As the white rhino sits down in his chair, he looks to the prisoners opposite him with a heightened readiness. On the left side is a muscular white wolf with dark blue eyes, dressed in nothing but ragged trousers. His paws are bound in shackles as he wears an unamused expression. To the right is a bulky brown bull with silver horns, adorned in baggy ragged clothes. Piercing scarlet orbs are what meets the captain as he looks to his shackled hooves, trying to pick out if his size is either due to muscle or fat.

Not a word is spoken between them, a tense stare-off taking its place. Grey orbs glare into dark blue, desperately trying to pick at his eyes for any information betrayed by them. "So…" Grey eyes narrow as the white wolf interrupts him, "You've got me. You've captured me and pretty much have me dead to rights… Yet, you haven't put me or my friend here in a cell? I wonder why…" He trails off in a deep but well-mannered tone.

After taking a deep breath, the captain gives a measured response, "Because you 'just so happened to be there' when we were chasing after the last few wolves we needed to get."

Dark blue orbs widen slightly, noticing the disbelieving distinction in the rhino's tone, "Oh… So, you… You believe that I wouldn't have gone back to help my own kind. That I would just… Let them be taken?" He asks back, faking an incredulous tone expertly.

Regardless of this, the rhino captain sees through him immediately, "You would have… Unless you had a reason to help them out…" he reasons, knowing just how difficult it will be to break this man but hoping still hoping that he will slip.

A mocking sneer takes its place on the white wolf's face, "Is good faith not a reason?" He toys with the captain, silently enjoying his attempts to make him talk.

"Maybe, but that wouldn't be enough for you. There's something bigger… Isn't there?" Dead seriousness inhabits the white rhino's stare, not allowing himself to fall victim for the wolf's ploy. Yet nothing is betrayed by their eyes or movements, no signs that they have been found or anything.

"And what on earth could those wolves offer us?" A raspy, somewhat unintelligible voice pours out of the bull, his throat having clearly faced some kind of lasting trauma. "Their leader is dead… They have nothing to go back to… Nothing to plan or scheme." It is only thanks to the relative silence of the room that the captain can understand the wolf's friend.

"That reminds me, who the hell are you?" The white rhino motions towards the bull, having been intrigued about his presence ever since his men had caught the two criminals.

Scarlet orbs stare bitterly at the rhino captain as the white wolf replies, "Well, my friend here is called Gongniu*." A sly grin crosses the wolf's face as he stares directly into the white rhino's grey orbs, "And you already know my name, don't you." Dark blue eyes pick out the scowl deepening in the white rhino's expression, the wolf in full control despite being in shackles. After a brief pause, the white wolf states in a somewhat curious voice, "Well, seeing that they'd have no help to grant us… I'm intrigued to see what else you could be suggesting, captain."

Meanwhile, on the top deck of the ship, a brown eagle adorned with lightweight armour and multiple scroll cases stands near the front of the ship, her yellow eyes darting around every square inch of the ocean around them. As she does this, her mind goes through the navigation routes discussed by both her captain and the navigator. After all, as the imperial messenger she has to be ready for anything. Through her frantic scanning, she looks towards the navigator steering the ship and smiles at him for a brief second, gaining a smile in return. It is in this small moment that something catches her eye. Sails, and they're not far behind the ship. With a panicked interest, she flies towards the stern side of the imperial vessel and lands on the railing above the captain's cabin.

Another triple decker ship is what greets her, its sails white like theirs but bearing no imperial mark and looking far less pristine. Cautious yellow orbs look to its inhabitants, a few black and grey wolves wearing ragged clothes alongside a small one or two gorillas. Nothing immediately threatening. Her eyes shift towards the steering wheel of their ship, seeing a somewhat lanky crocodile manning it. But he isn't the focus of her gaze, instead it is the black, female vulture standing by him. Clearly their captain. For some reason the eagle can't keep her eyes off the bird as she stares back, her pink eyes staring back at the messenger with devious intent.

"Are they hostile?" She snaps her gaze over to the suspicious rhino that had noticed the commotion, his eyes staring at the ship with an aggressive focus, silently warning the people on the other ship to not dare cross them.

A contemplative look crosses the eagle's face, trying to gauge what the inhabitants of that ship could be planning but there are no weapons to be found. No crossbows, swords, or ballistae. Nothing to attack any of them with. By all appearances it looks to be a ship full of merchants and regular civilians. But if they're merchants, then why do they need such a massive boat? And why are there so many of them? In spite of this concern, no answers present themselves. "Doesn't look like they are." An unconfident timbre infects her voice, the eagle not at all comfortable with that ship's presence. "But stay alert just to be sure." With a swift nod, her rhino companion slowly heads towards the ballista mounted in the centre of their ship, prepared for any potential threats from the opposing vessel.

As the crew's suspicions run wild, the white rhino captain continues his interrogation despite feeling his power slipping from his grasp. "What I'm suggesting, Zhongcheng, is that you hiding a bunch of your wolf friends just as we're given clearance to head back home, was no accident…" He spits out, revolted by the very name of the white wolf. "You wanted to be here." He states his case, grey orbs darkly boring into Zhongcheng's dark blue eyes.

To his surprise, a chuckle seeps its way out of the wolf though the nature of it is unclear. Had he been found out? Or was this merely a wild gamble with no payoff? "You think… That I wanted to be captured?" He inquires smugly as a mocking grin sears itself onto his face, forcing the white rhino's eyes to narrow with a repressed fury. "That I want to be taken back home, publicly humiliated and then executed…? You do understand how absurd that sounds, don't you?" Grey orbs shift between dark blue and scarlet, desperately trying to figure out what they're planning. If they were attempting to break out their comrades, there is little they can do to escape without a practical army. Plus, there is no way for them to exit from their restraints, especially with the consideration that they're made out of tungsten. From a quick glance, neither man look to be capable of breaking out of it, though Gongniu's strength still remains in question due to his extremely baggy clothing.

Unfortunately, the white wolf has a point. If they're unable to break out the prisoners below, then what are they here for? Or maybe they are here to do that… What could they be hiding? With this thought in mind he simply states, "I will admit, it does sound pretty dumb, but I'm not just gonna believe that we got lucky in catching you."

Unbeknownst to the grizzled captain and his crew, a scaled hand slowly rises out of the still water and clings to the stern side of the ship. It pulls itself out of the water to reveal an alligator dressed in lightweight armour who begins to climb up higher towards the second deck of the ship. As he makes his way up, he looks downwards to see multiple pairs of eyes inhabiting the water, ready for a signal.

Whilst this happens, dark blue eyes narrow as Zhongcheng stares at the captain, knowing full well that the captain won't back down from his assumption. "Not a fan of fate, captain?" A vile darkness embeds itself into his voice, his smile disappearing as his gaze burrows into the white rhino with a deadly malice. Grey eyes narrow further in response, his confidence returning at the wolf deciding to no longer play any games. "Neither am I… It tests you; It challenges you. It wants you to stand up against it, to fight…" The captain allows the white wolf to continue his little monologue, hoping that he'll reveal just what he has planned for his crew. "And when you do… It punishes you. It's unjust, it's unfair… It's like a warrior challenging you to a fight you cannot possibly win. Nothing can be crueller than that…" As Zhongcheng continues his speech, the alligator climbs higher and higher, the eagle directly above him too focused on the opposite boat to see him. He finally reaches the wall of the second deck, directly outside of the interrogation room. He turns around to face the vulture on the other boat and gives her a thumbs up. "Although, there is a funny side." A small smile grows on the wolf's face, his dark tone gaining a sinister distinction. "No matter what kind of life you've lived," Pink eyes keep themselves glued onto the eagle and rhino whilst noticing the alligator clinging onto the stern side of the boat from the corner of her sight. "Whether you be a simple villager, a wanted criminal or a noble warrior, fate has something planned for you." The vulture exaggeratedly stretches her wings out and flaps them momentarily, gaining no reaction from her imperial surveillance but instantly confirming something to the alligator watching her every move. He turns to the wall and reels his fist back. "And no matter how much you try to change, no matter how many times you've paid for your sins… Fate's plan never changes."

Bang! Bang!

Grey eyes sharply widen at the loud noise emanating from the wall to his right whilst Zhongcheng takes a deep breath, his signal loud and clear. Before the captain can do anything, the white wolf unleashes an unbelievably loud howl, penetrating through the thick wooden frame of the ship and resonating in the air outside. All members of the imperial crew are startled by this canine siren whilst the alligators waiting below them make their move. As their reptile comrades swiftly clamber up the imperial ship, the wolves on the opposing ship haul up a massive ballista with a rope tied to its arrow. They fire as the alligators board the ship and begin to battle the guards stationed on the top deck.

Ping!

Lodging itself into the back of the captain's quarters, the arrow creates a new path for the wolf crew of the opposing boat. They sprint their way onto the rope towards the imperial ship with the vulture shooting towards the eagle messenger, who had been paralysed in shock with what has just been happening. Noticing her approaching threat, the brown eagle attempts to fly away whilst her rhino companion attempts to fire their ballista.

Shink!

Her flight is ended prematurely however as she feels several daggers pierce her wings. She turns her head towards her rhino comrade as she falls, only to see five daggers lodged into his chest and face. Before the eagle is able to do anymore, the pink eyed vulture pins her down and stomps on her head.

Crack!

A devilish smile covers the vulture's face as she stares upon the dead eagle, her blood painting the sadistic bird's talons.

Amidst all this chaos, Zhongcheng stops his earth-shattering howl as the captain tries to reach towards him. However, Gongniu kicks the table forward, thwarting the white rhino's attempts. Before he can do anything else, the brown bull flexes his arm muscles and effortlessly breaks out of his shackles. He smashes the table in front of him with both hooves and charges into the captain, impaling him with his sharp, silver horns. Hearing the commotion, the armoured rhino boots the door open to intervene but is immediately disarmed by Zhongcheng who then kicks him in the shin and elbows him in the back of the head, knocking him down to the ground. Before the dazed rhino can get up, the white wolf immediately plunges the spear into the back of his head. After doing this, the white wolf presents his chains to his comrade, who easily shatters the tungsten cuffs.

"Let's free our brothers!" Zhongcheng proudly announces to Gongniu as they exit the cramped room and head down to the bottom deck, unaware of the other presence that hides itself in the darkened parts of the room. Feline eyes blend into these shadowy curtains due to their onyx hue, waiting for the perfect moment to sneak away.

Meanwhile on the top deck of the boat, several more soldiers join the fray as alligators, wolves and gorillas battle rhinos and leopards. Blood is shed on both sides, but the numbers fall into the favour of Zhongcheng's forces, the surprise ambush catching most of the imperial soldiers off guard. "Where's our reinforcements!?" One of the leopard soldiers screams out, completely baffled by why his comrades in the mess halls are taking so long to get up here.

Rumble!

All participants in the battle find it hard to keep their balance as the ship's very frame begins to shake, the noise of millions of footsteps getting louder and louder. Before any of the imperial forces can ready themselves, the leopard soldier's question is answered. The door leading to the lower decks bursts open as a seemingly never-ending stream of wolves flows out from the entrance, instantly overpowering the remaining imperial forces. Gongniu exits alongside them, battering and throwing around as many imperial guards as he can find until audible snaps emanate from their broken bodies. As the river of wolf prisoners finally ceases, Zhongcheng can be seen calmly exiting out the door, his vigilant eyes scanning the surrounding area for anymore threats. Only a few more guards remain on the top deck that will inevitably end up being slaughtered, the few that had dared try to escape by jumping in the water being immediately skewered with arrows and the vulture's daggers. A proud smile finds itself on his face until his nose catches a peculiar scent.

His dark blue orbs dart behind him, feeling a presence around the door leading to the lower decks. He pins his back to the wall next to the door and listens out for anything that could give the person away. Dark blue eyes narrow in concentration as he tries to block out the racket of the ongoing battle. Gongniu notices his comrade's suspicion and quietly walks to him, the white wolf still patiently waiting. His ears finally twitch at the very light sound of breathing, the wolf taking his back off the wall in response. Zhongcheng looks to his bull companion and points to the wall he was just pinned to. Without a moment's hesitation, the bull crashes his hooves into the wooden wall and wraps his arms around the neck of their intruder. He pulls them outside, revealing a cloaked figure with onyx eyes. They struggle in the bull's grasp as he holds their neck tightly in a choke hold. Before long they lose consciousness, Gongniu having little trouble in pacifying the unknown figure. Scarlet eyes look up to dark blue in question, silently asking what he should do with their prisoner. Before the white wolf responds, he walks up towards the hooded figure and swiftly pulls the hood back, with scarlet orbs widening in surprise whilst Zhongcheng's face merely looks on with an unamused glare.

Underneath that hood is the face of a female orange tiger. Expecting nothing less than this, the white wolf's eyes notably change, adopting a subtle satisfaction that only Gongniu can pick out. "Bring her aboard." This cold command exits Zhongcheng's maw as he signals the pink-eyed vulture to lower the anchor of the imperial ship. His bull comrade follows his command immediately and slings the feline over his shoulder, ready to transport her to their ship.

After ten minutes, the tiger comes to, finding herself kneeling on the floor of a ship and her arms chained behind her back. "Good morning, my dear." A deep but chillingly smooth voice enters her ear as her foggy vision begins to clear up. She looks forward, seeing a white blur that slowly sharpens into a white wolf. The wolf that she was tasked to keep an eye on. Her onyx orbs dart around the sides of the boat, immediately seeing the imperial boat that they were both on earlier to her right side. She notices that there is a plank connecting the two ships, clearly the way they had transported her here. "Now, now. I don't think its best that you try to form any plans. After all, the imperial army has graciously given me a fantastic gift." Her eyes dart back to Zhongcheng who points to something behind her. She takes a quick glance to see all two hundred of the imperial ship's prisoners plus the white wolf's own forces, staring down at her. Whether it be in some sick sense of hunger or bloodlust she'd rather not know. As she turns her head back, something new catches her eye. There are several wolves and gorillas on the imperial ship, pouring some kind of substance onto the top deck. Before she can identify it, she feels Zhongcheng's paw roughly grab her jaw and forcefully turn her to him. "You've been following us for a long time, and don't think I haven't noticed. Though you may be good at being hidden, it rarely stays that way around me." Onyx orbs stare into dark blue as the wolf plays with his prey.

She retains a stone-cold look as she clenches her jaw, never intending to say a word to the cretin. Noticing this immediately, Zhongcheng gives a somewhat toothy grin, "Now I know you're not going to tell me what you've found out about us, nor are you going to reveal anything about your people."

Her head perks up slightly, betraying her shock. But how? There's no way he could know about us… Right? Her stare intensifies as the wolf's menacing aura soon gains a smugness to it, seemingly reading her mind. Though she is expecting some kind of ego filled explanation from him, he doesn't seem to indulge her.

"But I will let you know that your efforts have been for nothing." This arrogant aura is soon eradicated, replaced with a corrosive animosity, his words spoken as if they're made of sulphur. To her surprise, he lets go of her face as he motions for Gongniu to hand him something. The bull steps forward, holding black chest armour complete with spiked shoulder pauldrons and gauntlets, the back of it facing the feline. Her ears twitch as the wolf's mumbled 'Thank you.' Is only just caught by her feline ears. As Zhongcheng turns around to place the armour on his bare chest, he announces, "You will not stop us. No one will." A mighty clang echoes across the still sea as he puts on his pitch-black armour, the light from the sun majestically reflecting off it. He turns around to face the tiger again, her eyes widening in shock at the symbol painted on the front of his armour. A red eye surrounded by numerous curved lines. Lord Shen's insignia. "Our lord's will… Will be done." A satisfied smile goes across Zhongcheng's face as he notices the tiger's reaction, telling him everything he needs to know about what she had found out about them. "No panda, tiger or any other kind of animal will be able to keep our empire from us…" He trails off as he slowly makes his way to the tiger and crouches down in front of her, his dark blue eyes adopting a hungry gaze. "So, I'd suggest, for your sake, that you give in. For your fate will be the same either way."

Onyx orbs stare at the armour-clad wolf, her ears twitching at the sound of lustful panting and demented chuckles emanating from behind. She is tempted to growl at the torment that they're willing to put her through, all to get the information they seek about her clan. They know that she won't talk through death threats or bodily harm, so they decide to desecrate her honour instead? Just so they can have fun whilst breaking her down? How despicable. In spite of this thought, she does see an advantage in this. These lecherous dogs will accidentally give her a way to escape, to get this integral information to her clan. Regardless of her heart begging her not to do so, she resigns herself to this fate as she feigns a pleading expression. "Please don't, please… I beg you… Have mercy… Please…" She begs to the white wolf leader as fake tears roll from her eyes.

This performance seems convincing enough for the degenerates behind her, whose panting and laughter grows louder. However, Zhongcheng's dark blue orbs see through her guise. Though he trusts his men, he is fully aware of how simple it can be for a warrior to take advantage of someone's careless mistake. He gives Gongniu a stern glance, the bull instantly understanding what his comrade wants as he walks over to the tiger spy and stops right behind her, putting his hoof on her shoulder. She shivers at his touch, almost certain that the heartless commander will let his friend get first pickings. "For once… I think I will." The tiger's brows furrow in slight confusion until the white wolf nods towards the bull behind her. Before she is able to do anything, the bulky bull places one arm on top of her head and another in front of her mouth. Several muffled screams exit her maw as she struggles in his grip. Despite this, he twists her head until…

Crack!

All wolves, gorillas and alligators wince at the sickening sound that accompanies the chilling air, all except for Zhongcheng, who merely stands and watches the life leave her. Her body now limp, the tiger spy is haphazardly thrown back to the imperial ship as the wolves and gorillas almost empty out the substance they've been draining onto it. Some of the wolves whine at the loss of their potential toy whilst the gorillas simply huff in disappointment. "No worries, boys!" Zhongcheng quickly assures his crew, somehow managing to take a glance at over two hundred pairs of eyes. "You'll have plenty of rewards soon! We may have been beaten at Gongmen… But we will not be bested again! The dragon warrior and his friends will be broken, and we… We will bask in the glory of our new empire!" He bellows out, receiving a chorus of cheers in response. Dark blue eyes notice the wolves and gorillas that had poured out several barrels and bottles of liquid, heading back to the ship and retracting the plank that connects the two. The white wolf clicks towards one of those wolves holding a bottle of alcohol and motions him over to him. Obeying his leader, the wolf gives him the bottle as Zhongcheng takes a match out of his pocket. "Kuangzao*! Hoist the anchor!" He calls out to the pink eyed vulture, who gives him a small salute before obeying.

As the anchor rises and their ship begins to move, Zhongcheng raises his bottle of baijiu* in the air before cheering, "For Shen!"

For Shen!

With this cheer repeated by his obedient soldiers, the white wolf strikes the match on one of his gauntlets and throws it at the imperial ship. Its immediately catches fire, the entirety of its frame set ablaze within mere moments. Over two hundred voices scream out in triumph as the alpha wolf heartily drinks from his bottle, beyond joyful about how his plan is coming together. They leave the burning ship stranded in the middle of the ocean, the cheers from Shen's reassembled army suffocating the air as the auburn flames from the wrecked ship rivals the sun. Dark blue eyes look up to the sky, the white wolf silently making a pledge to his fallen lord.

You will get your birth right, my lord. Your empire will be a reality.

1* Zhongcheng = Loyal in Chinese

2* Gongniu = Bull in Chinese

3* Kuangzao = Mania in Chinese

Already a brutal start, huh? As you can probably tell, I've taken a bit of inspiration from The Dark Knight Rises (How can I not, that film is awesome) and I think that having Shen involved in some way would be a cool idea. As for why I didn't revive him... Well, we've got plenty of that already and as much as I love Shen, his story arc was already finished in KFP 2. There are gonna be a few twists and turns in this story plus any things that you may feel need to be explained will be explained fairly soon. One last thing I want to mention is I'm planning on calling this (Fragile Hearts, Legacy of Darkness and the third one) the Iron Wills trilogy. Not 100% sure on the name, but I think it fits so far. Anyway, hope you've enjoyed. See you next time :)