And...I'm Back!

Let me ask you something, ever realize that whenever you go to the beach on Vacation, the last thing you always seem to do on a trip that is supposed to be relaxing...is to actually try and relax!?

I apologize for not warning everybody ahead of time but Last week was my summer Vacation to the beach, and since my roommate's dog terminated my Laptop during Fate Can Be So Cruel Part 1, I wasn't able to work on any fics last week. Apologies for not warning you all I was going to be away. but I've spent the past 2 days writing and I now have a few updates for you guys.

Thanks for your patience and Enjoy the read.

Chapter 2

A Mission gone wrong

2 months later…

It was the dead of night, as the moon shined brightly over the landscape, basking everything in a seemingly unnatural glow. A single fortress stood towering at the top of a hill at the edge of a cliff, overlooking a vast land covered in a dense forest. During this time, most of the Fortress's inhabitants would have been sleeping by now, save for the night watchmen. But apparently this was not the case for one lone figure.

A single figure shrouded in a brown cloak, slowly and stealthily made their way through the massive fortress. Taking extra care not to make so much as a single sound, so as not to alert any of the guards they knew were posted at various locations. The Figure had spent the past 7 weeks in this Fortress and knew its architecture inside and out. They knew when the guards switched posts and where and when the fortress guard would be at its weakest. After doing this for the past 2 months, one tends to catch on to a routine for such tasks thanks to the carelessness of others.

They were determined to get out of this fortress tonight so that they could finally deliver their Message. Just about a mile south of the fortress would be a lone messenger that they knew would be waiting for them to arrive, and the figure did not intend to be late. Not if they could help it.

As the figure peered around the corner of the hall they were traveling along, they noticed 2 wolf guards approaching from said hall. "Right on time." the figure thought to themselves, as they leaped up onto the nearby wall and again up into the ceiling, and by using their claws, grabbed onto some rafters and waited in silence for the wolves to pass underneath. As the wolves made a right at the cross roads, the figure watched as they began to pass underneath them, when suddenly, one stopped dead in their tracks and sniffed the air. He had noticed the figure's scent.

Quickly and silently, the figure swung over to the next rafter and around the corner just in time for the wolf to look up, only to see that the rafters were void of any reason for the strange scent. "Hey, hurry up already, we've got to finish our rounds before the boss gets mad at us. You hear about what he did to that Lion up on the fourth level for being late to his post? I heard the poor sap is still locked up in the cells. And that was 4 days ago."

Returning his gaze back to the ground, the wolf saw his companion had managed to walk several yards ahead of him as he called over, "Yeah, I heard. Keep your trap shut already, I'm coming. Thought I might have caught on to something, but I guess not." And with that the two wolves began to make their way down the hall, while the Figure now made their way outside.

As they maneuvered throughout the fortress, the figure quickly began scaling the walls and ladders, being careful to duck behind any barrels or supply crates that they could use for cover whenever a guard came too close. They were now crouched at the base of the south fortress wall and were now waiting for the next shift change. The Figure had managed to arrive a few minutes early and was now lying underneath a supply wagon clutching the bottom of it. As soon as the guards changed shifts, the one coming off duty was to take this cart out of the fortress and down to the nearest village for supplies in the morning. This was the Figure's best and safest chance at getting out of the fortress undetected.

In just a few minutes the Lion guards standing at the gate were replaced by 2 Rhino guards, and one of the Lions had walked over to the cart and hefted it up, ready to haul it off down to the nearest town. "Hurry up and open those gates already. The Master wants me back as late as tomorrow night. And I don't plan on disappointing him." with an understanding nod, the two Rhinos opened the gates and the Lion began to haul the cart out of the Fortress, with the Figure pressing themselves up against the bottom of the cart, not wanting to be caught.

After traveling for about an hour, the Figure discovered the strange rock formation off to the side of the road they had been waiting to pass and silently let them drop from underneath the cart. His ear catching the sound of a quiet *thud* the Lion stopped the cart and whirled around, sword at the ready, only to see some bushes rustling off to the side. After scratching their head, the lion then grumbled, "Musta been the wind." And he quickly began to haul the cart once again.

When he was far enough away, the figure quietly peered out from behind the bush and scanned the area to make sure the coast was clear. When they finished, they quickly checked the folds of their robe to make sure they still had their package, a single scroll, which was tucked nice and tightly away in the sash around their waist. Immediately they set off once again, this time, at a quicker pace, and heading east. It wouldn't be long now.

After running through the trees for about another hour, the figure came to a lone stream next to a giant boulder. This was the place they were to be meeting their contact. But as the figure gazed around, they saw that they were all alone. Were they early? No, looking up at the moon, they could easily tell they were on time. But if that was the case…then where was the contact?

As the figure walked up to the boulder and leaned up against it, they sighed heavily. They only had an hour to wait for the contact before they would have to get back to the fortress, or they risked their absence being discovered. Looking down to her right, something caught the figures eye in the moonlight. It was a slight shimmer from the moon light reflecting off of a surface. Kneeling down for a closer look, the figure reached out with a stripped paw and touched the spot and lifted their paw back towards their shrouded face. Upon closer inspection it became obvious what the substance was… It was blood.

Looking back down, the figure noticed a trail of sorts making its way over towards a bush and as they followed it, a sickening feeling began to build within the pit of their stomach. As they pulled the brush back, their eyes widened in horror at what they saw, a lone goose in a green messengers uniform lying dead in the bush. "Jian." The figure whispered upon recognizing their contact. This wasn't good. If Jian had been killed then it was almost certain their cover had been blown and they would never be able to send back word of what they had discovered that week.

Who knows what the poor sap might have revealed before his murder. After so many weeks, the entire purpose of this mission had finally been revealed to them and they had no way of sending word for back up. And worse…if Jian was dead…then that only meant-

A sudden noise caught their attention as a deep voice echoed throughout the trees, "I was starting to believe that you had decided not to show up. I am ever so glad that you have not disappointed me this night, Tai Lee." The figure in question whirled around to see another large figure towering above them, standing tall and menacingly atop of a nearby boulder, with the moon at his back as they glared at the cloaked figure and continued, "Or should I say…Master Tigress of the Jade Palace?"

The Figure then growled "Master Xiang." as a striped paw removed the cloak and threw it asunder, revealing the form of Master Tigress of the Jade Palace, wearing brown commoner's pants and a black tunic with long sleeves, covering her arms. Quickly, the large being before her snapped their fingers and instantly Tigress was surrounded by about 20 guards. Just as quickly, a pair of Rhinos immediately rushed up from behind her and grabbed her up from under the arms, while the one off to her right quickly removed the scroll she had been carrying from her sash and threw it over to the base of the boulder, where the Massive figure had leaped down from and picked it up, as he said, "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk…infiltrating my ranks…posing as a Male under a false name-"

At this the figure quickly opened the scroll and briefly read its contents before he sighed heavily and finished, "-And attempting to expose my secrets to others, who I would rather not yet know of my plans? Such a shame indeed." Tigress growled as she remained where she stood being held by the two Guards, yet she refused to say a word. Her fiery amber eyes now glaring daggers into the figure before her as he continued. "Though…I suppose not all is lost."

At this the figure stepped forward to stand before Tigress as she eyed him suspiciously. He then proceeded to say, "It was only a matter of time before I set out to procure my own Master of Kung Fu anyway. You see…acquiring the secrets of Kung Fu is a rather useful benefit to my plan. A plan that apparently-" as the figure known as Xiang motioned to the scroll in his right paw, "That you know quite a bit about. And now, it appears that I have had my own Master living under my roof for the past 2 months. What luck this is indeed."

Immediately Tigress growled again as she spat, "Forget it, Xiang…I'll never cooperate with scum like you." Xiang then laughed heartily as he then turned around and began to walk back towards the Fortress, "My dear…I'm afraid that in time, you will surely come to realize that you will not have a choice in that matter at all. For as I know you are all too well aware of…I can be rather…persuasive, in my methods to get what I want."

And with that, Xiang waved his paw behind him as he ordered, "Escort Master Tigress to the fortress Dungeons, and do make sure she is rather…comfortable in her new quarters. I shall have her sent for in the morning." And with that Xiang began to lead his forces back to the fortress, while Tigress was immediately bound in chains and escorted back to the fortress with 12 of the guards now surrounding her.

As they walked, Tigress watched as Xiang pocketed the scroll she was meant to send to her Master with her latest findings. She had finally discovered the objective of her mission and tonight was the night she was going to inform Shifu. But now…now that would have to wait. She had to get out of this situation and fast, because if there was one thing she knew better than the sacred laws of Kung Fu, it was her Master. And if Shifu did not hear from her after a certain time, he was more than likely going to send a search party, or an extraction team for her. And after everything Tigress had managed to learn this week, the last thing she wanted was for her comrades to be anywhere near this fortress, and the horrors that dwelled within.

"Master…please, don't do anything rash. Just give me some time and I'll find a way out of this. Whatever you do, don't send them after me. You can't send them here. Not to this place. I just need a little time. I need to form a plan. Just a little while Master, and I will complete my mission. And whatever you do…please…do not send HIM to come for me…"

At that last thought, Tigress looked up at the waxing moon above as she imagined the face of her Comrade and perhaps her closest friend, while she finished the thought , "Whatever you do…don't send Po into this Lion's den…because if you do…Dragon Warrior or not…I fear that he would never survive."

Not the longest chapter I know, but the next one will make up for it. and this time, I am not going anywhere. Thanks for reading and remember...

REVIEW!