Ohayho Tokyo! Konnichi wa London! Konban wa New York! CJzilla here with another update. This chapter proves to be the most dynamic I've written so far! Enjoy.

As I breathe fire down on this city, alls CJzilla has to roar is this: R&R! Love on me... hate on me... you guys should know this...

Battle Without Honor or Humanity

Layla watched in horror as the two warriors traded blows all over the training yard. Whispers inside her head told her to let Po and Tai Lung battle because something would be solved by the fight, but it just too much for the gray vixen to watch. Layla wouldn't have this and she'd stop this, even if that meant separating both warriors by stepping in their path.

Black and white and gray fur went in all directions as Tai Lung finally wrestled Po to his back. The fight seemed to turn and take the snow leopard's favor. Tai Lung cranked back his fist, aiming to drive it into the panda's annoying face when he was tackled off of his opponent. The snow leopard didn't have to do long division to understand that Layla had butted into his battle again.

Tai Lung let out a grunt of frustration and impact as he and the silvery vixen tumbled in the dirt. The snow leopard tried to hold her tight and immobilize her but he was denied when Layla wrestled him to the ground. Tai Lung knew he was on his back and that Layla was holding his left hand to the dirt with her knee. He swung with his right, hoping to get her off of him. The snow leopard opened his eyes at the last second to see the fox catch his blow. Still gripping his right hand, she tumbled to the side, using his own weight to toss in across the training yard. It was all over in a lightning fast movement.

The silvery vixen stood as she watched Tai Lung come to a stop in the dirt. Pounding the ground with his fist, the snow leopard let out a snarl of anger as he hopped back to his feet.

"Back off Layla!" Tai Lung barked.

Unfazed by her flame's threat, Layla gritted her teeth.

"Knock it off! Both of you!" Her tail bristled as she passed a venom glance to Po and then to Tai Lung. "This is pointless and someone's only going to get hurt!"

Tai Lung scoffed.

"That's the whole idea, Layla." The snow leopard answered like she was stupid. "Now get out of the way before you get hurt."

"The flea bag's right, Lady Layla." She heard Po say from behind her. "I don't want to see you hurt so just-"

"I don't want to see you hurt either, Layla." Tai Lung interrupted, his golden eyes sharpening with jealousy as his tail flicked. "But if you interfere further and get in my crosshairs again, you're gonna end up like your fuzzy knucklehead lover-boy."

The snow leopard darkened with the ending of his statement but it only confused Layla. The silvery vixen got a funny look on her face as she processed what Tai Lung just said.

"Who's the fuzzy knucklehead, you meat-headed nutcase?!" Po challenged shaking a fist.

The vixen rolled her eyes at the insults the two warriors were throwing at each other. But just the same, Tai Lung and Po glared at each other.

"No one's going to get hurt because this battle is over!" Layla commanded, swiping the air with her hand.

"Sorry Layla, but you're in no position to end this fight." Tai Lung folded his beefy arms, glaring at the fox through the top of his jealous eyes.

Layla was grinding her teeth together.

"I don't care if both of you want to fight until the sun comes up!" The fox fumed and stomped her foot. "THIS FIGHT IS OVER!"

With her angry outburst, a sharp wind hit the training yard. Dirt moved with the strong gust and was cast in small whirlwinds over the open area. Shielding his eyes from the dust in the air, Tai Lung let loose a tiny grin. Whoa. He didn't know Layla advanced enough to learn how to project her energy to the world around her.

"Save the tantrum, Layla." The snow leopard opened his eyes and gave the vixen a cocky grin. "I'm not backing down."

Po scoffed.

"I'm not either." The panda refused. "You're goin' down, Tai Lung!"

The vixen's face twisted with rage and frustration.

"I'm not going to let you fight." She hissed, eyeing Tai Lung.

The snow leopard scowled, thinking that she was favoring the Dragon Warrior again. But when Po made a movement forward, Layla grabbed her fan and held it under the panda's chin.

"Either of you." Layla clarified, looking at him through the corner of her yellow eyes.

Not knowing why, Tai Lung gave a wicked smile. This fight just got interesting.

"All right, Baby Bird. Let's see you stop us." The snow leopard challenged taking a fighting stance.

The silvery vixen inhaled and sharpened her yellow eyes.

She could feel Po's eyes darting between her and Tai Lung. Obviously the young Dragon Warrior was mystified. Layla didn't blame him; she was confused too but she promised herself to do everything possible to stop the two warriors from hurting each other. Tai Lung made a noise that was like an excited laugh and a battle cry before he charged toward the vixen and panda. Opening her fans and Layla readied for the monstrously powerful warrior to come.

The snow leopard came at full gallop but shifted, sliding on his knee as his other leg swiped the dirt, hoping to take Layla's feet out from under her. The vixen saw the move coming; jumping, Tai Lung's kick attack went harmlessly under her. Layla hovered in the air for a long second as the snow leopard's other leg whirled around and did the same as the first. With his kick attack spent, there was a second where Tai Lung was vulnerable. He was crouched, hands on the dirt and legs splayed open. Layla took the shot. The vixen planted her foot onto the snow leopard's chest as she fell, pressing an energy blast into him that threw him back across the training yard.

Tai Lung came to an unpleasant and embarrassing stop on his face, feet over his head.

Po cackled at the snow leopard.

"How's the dirt taste-?" The panda choked out before Layla gave him a swat on the nose with her closed fan. "Ow!"

Po held his face as the vixen glared at him.

"You keep insulting him and I'll keep smacking you." The vixen warned.

"B-but he's so easy to make fun of!" The panda's complaint was met with another swat with Layla's fan.

Tai Lung got to his feet, shaking the dirt from his fur and grunted in frustration. If he couldn't go through Layla, he'd go over her. Sprinting again toward the panda and vixen, Tai Lung jumped into the air, over Layla's head and toward Po.

Po watched the snow leopard bound into the air and fly towards him. The panda made a fist and jumped to meet Tai Lung half way. But something held his foot and forced him back to the ground. Layla had held her foot to his and thrust down with her leg. Po was grounded when the vixen wrapped her arms around him and twisted. The panda hadn't much choice but to move with the fox and as she let go of him, Po stumbled back before catching his balance again.

Layla didn't forget about Tai Lung, who met the ground by the second she let go of Po. Turning her head before she was able to turn her body, the snow leopard pounced on her. Wrapping his muscular arms around her neck and torso the vixen was immobilized. Layla tried to pull away from his vice-like grip. Her struggling only pleased Tai Lung because she felt his chest bounce with a held in laugh. Again, she HATED it when he did this to her. Tai Lung was stronger than she was and he knew it.

"It's good to have my arms around you again, Baby Bird." The snow leopard pressed his mouth to her ear.

Hopeless flirt!

Heat rose from her feet to her face as the vixen was reminded about their time in the bamboo forest. Layla's attraction to Tai Lung fueled her frustration with being forced motionless in his arms. The vixen buried her heel into his foot. Tai Lung yelped in pain but still held her. She writhed and slammed her heel into his other foot. Growling, the snow leopard flipped her in his arms. He was now holding her bridal-style. Layla caught a naughty smirk on his face for a split second. Now her face was really red. Huffing angrily, Layla gave him a head-butt. As Tai Lung's head reeled with the blow, his grip loosened. The vixen dropped out of his arms, stroked him across the ankles with her leg and finally pinned him to the dirt.

Tai Lung blinked the spots out of his eyes before reality sharpened enough to where he could see his flame. He got an amused smile on his face.

"Nice moves, Layla." The snow leopard complimented.

Layla's face twisted with a deep flush and an angry expression. Tai Lung held a dazzling smile that he knew would hypnotize the vixen. It worked because Layla was staring hard. As she was dazed, the snow leopard looped both of his legs around her torso and flung her to the ground. Bouncing over her, Tai Lung held Layla to the dirt. He gave her a chaser smirk as she struggled. Just then something flew across the training yard and hit him on the head. A closed fan clanked to the ground after making contact with the snow leopard's hard head.

"Hey whisker face!" It was the annoying Dragon Warrior. "I thought your fight was with me!"

Tai Lung's scowl of rage returned. Just when he was having some fun, that pesky panda had to ruin it! Glancing up, the snow leopard jumped off the vixen and tore for the Dragon Warrior.

On the sidelines, well, actually in the shade, Master Shifu and the Furious Five watched the action. Tigress didn't like it one bit.

"I feel like such a coward, Master Shifu!" The female tiger snarled, making a fist. "Po needs our help!"

The red panda master shook his head lightly, narrowing his eyes and pursing his lips.

"No, I think Po has enough help down there." He explained as Layla got between Po and Tai Lung again. "This is not our battle and I really don't think the fight belongs to Po or Tai Lung either."

At her master's comment, Tigress folded her arms.

"Then this really is pointless." She growled.

"I acknowledge your feelings, Tigress." Shifu stated, looking up at his student. "But we are just observers. Let the raging river find its own path. Though, I admit, Layla has thrown herself into something that she might not be able to stop."

Viper crawled forward.

"Is it just me, or does someone else have the feeling that this will end poorly?" The green tree viper asked her master.

Shifu looked over to Viper when Crane spoke up.

"I agree with Viper, Master Shifu." The normally easy going red crowned crane voiced. "Something tells me that this is going to get ugly."

The red panda Kung Fu master pondered this for a quick second.

"Very well. We shall keep a close eye on this fight; should it escalate, we will jump in." Shifu responded.

Mantis looked up at everyone.

"But this is fun to watch." The insect gave a wily smile. "I can't wait to see who wins."

Tigress shot Mantis a glare.

"Mantis! How could you think that?! Your cookies should be with PO!" Her hands were in the air.

"Cookies?" Monkey chirped. "What about cookies?"

The female south China tiger gave both Mantis and Monkey a venom glare before turning her eyes back to the battle.

Layla was behind Tai Lung, her fists against his back as she redirected his strikes against Po. The snow leopard was getting increasingly annoyed with the vixen's actions. Pushed forward, Tai Lung stumbled before he retook his balance. Now Layla was focusing on the panda.

Layla blocked a punch Po threw toward Tai Lung and pushed his hand down. The panda too was getting irritated because she kept blocking his blows at the snow leopard. He frowned as he sidestepped, hoping to go around the vixen. Layla stepped with him and held a fan ready. From behind, Tai Lung rushed toward them again. His fist flew over Layla's shoulder and just before his strike hit Po, the vixen used her forearm to push his arm harmlessly to the side. Po attempted to kick the snow leopard, his leg aiming around Layla and toward Tai Lung's side. But that attack Layla blocked as well.

Opening her fans, the vixen spun. The air spun around her and Po and Tai Lung were blown to opposite ends of the training yard. Sheathing her fans, Layla passed each of the warriors a glance

"I can keep this up as long as you two can." The vixen warned, her yellow eyes narrowed. "Do you give up?"

Tai Lung growled and gritted his teeth tight together and Po scrunched his nose in annoyance.

"YOU don't know when to quit, Layla!" The snow leopard snarled.

The vixen turned to her flame.

"I quit when you two quit." She returned. "And not a second before."

Her meddling in the fight was supremely angering and Tai Lung wasn't gonna take it anymore.

"I've had enough of your interference, Layla." The snow leopard took a menacing step forward.

The vixen turned to him. Her features were bright with concern but she was also hurt.

"Don't let your anger blind you and make you do something you'll regret, Tai Lung." Layla voiced.

Tai Lung growled.

"Three moves; that's all I need to take you down." The snow leopard kept stalking forward.

Layla's eyes were glittering with forming tears, showing the extent of her suffering. It was killing the vixen to have Tai Lung angry at her but it stung even more to know that he was sightless enough to not see how much he was hurting her. This was like a bad dream; a horrible nightmare that victimized her because she was unable to wake herself up or change the outcome.

The two warriors began circling each other.

Tai Lung's most primal anger was bubbling in his throat. He opened his heart to her, exposed his weaknesses and showed her a world he'd never revealed to anyone before. For all he'd given her, Layla shoved it back into his face! She sided with SHIFU and defended the Dragon Warrior! Where was their friendship now? Did she free him from Chorh-Gom to make him miserable and torment his inner heart?

"I thought you wanted Shifu gone!" Tai Lung spat growing closer. "You said he didn't deserve the Supreme Kung Fu Master position! I thought we were in this together! You turned against me and the way I see it, you're no better than Shifu!"

Layla's face twisted with confusion and many emotions.

"I am with you, Tai Lung!" She answered, voice cracking with emotion. "But what we're doing is wrong! I am not fighting for Shifu! He is the cause of all this!"

As they circled, Layla caught to look on Po's face.

"What do you mean, Layla?" The panda questioned, a confused hurt on his face.

"I-I-…" The vixen tried to place words to what she was feeling but she failed.

Layla turned her head to Shifu and his battered Furious Five. Her face twisted with her confused outburst, a sharp wind hit the training yard as her distressed state elevated. Dirt moved with the strong gust.

No! She would not fight for Shifu! He was the cause of all this! NO! IT WAS MASTER OOWAY'S FAULT! IF HE HADN'T DIED BEFORE SHE GOT THE CHANCE TO APOLOGIZE AND REDEEM HERSELF, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!

Who was Layla trying to fool? It was her fault. She used Shifu as a scapegoat for her own inability to deal with failing her Master. If she hadn't have been so selfish twenty some years ago, Master Oogway would have known how much she cared and how much she loved him and he wouldn't have died knowing her as a failure. Shifu wasn't to blame. It was nobody's fault but hers.

Holding her eyes to Po's, utter shame darkened her being. This is not at all what she wanted and not what she planned to happen.

"I started something I can't ever hope to finish." Layla cast her eyes down and let her fans drop to the ground. "I never wanted to hurt you, Po."

"Traitor!" Tai Lung raged.

The snow leopard moved forward and counted his moves.

One.

Taking a stance to the ground and bringing his fore and middle fingers together.

Two.

Layla moved, hoping to dodge him.

Three.

Tai Lung buried his two fingers into the vixen's left shoulder.

His nerve strike hit right on. Layla gasped sharply before collapsing on the ground. Her left arm was numb and her body felt fuzzy. The vixen then realized what Tai Lung had done to her. The Wu Dai Nerve Strike. Opening her eyes she saw Tai Lung standing over her as rain clouds choked out the fading sunlight. Stumbling back, the snow leopard nearly fell over.

Tai Lung's anger was pushed to the back of his mind for a split second, shocked at what he just did to his best friend. Tai Lung performed the Wu Dai Nerve Strike, a deadly attack that incapacitates an opponent by hitting a vital nerve next to the heart. First the left arm goes numb and the body is stunned before the heart stops beating all together.

A still, not unlike the grave settled on the Jade Palace for a long second.

The vixen sat up but suddenly cried out in pain. She held her hand over her heart as a sudden and sharp stab shot through her chest. Doubled over in pain, Layla could do nothing to stop what happened next.

"Layla! NO!" Po called out.

Tai Lung whirled around, such a fury in his eyes that it made Po stop in his tracks.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" The snow leopard blasted, flying toward the panda.

Layla's eyes went wide. NO!

Tai Lung hauled a fist across Po's face before giving him another punch in the gut. The panda doubled over with the blow only to get a knee in the mouth. Po fell to the ground. The snow leopard pounced on him and cranked back his fist as far as it could go. As Tai Lung launched the punch, Po moved his head to the side. The warrior's fist hit the ground so hard, it sent a tremor through the Jade Mountain and echoed through the Valley of Peace.

Po finally regained his thoughts and put both of his feet on Tai Lung's stomach. The panda launched the snow leopard over the wall and into the garden. Hopping to his feet and wiping his mouth, Po raced after Tai Lung. Running up a bamboo tree, the panda was too focused to notice that he'd pulled off an advanced move. He disappeared over the wall.

Layla pulled herself from the ground and clumsily followed Po and Tai Lung over the wall. She couldn't give up, not when they needed her the most.

Shifu and the Furious Five were all ready running toward the garden.

Tai Lung was on his hands and knees, unchanged from the spot where he'd landed. Tai Lung saw that Layla showing the first signs of the effects of Wu Dai. NO! He couldn't have just sealed his best friend's fate! He didn't mean to-… He wasn't thinking clearly! Anger was blocking his reason!

The snow leopard heard a thud on the ground. Looking up Tai Lung spotted the Dragon Warrior stomping toward him.

"What did you do?" The usually wise-cracking panda was fuming. "What did you just do to Lady Layla?!"

Tai Lung took fistfuls of dirt and squeezed with all his might.

"The Wu Dai." The snow leopard hushed, head bowed.

"What?" Po barked.

"The Wu Dai Nerve Strike." The words left Tai Lung's mouth like acid. "It-… It… paralyzes the heart."

He heard the panda stop in his tracks and his silence suggested that his mouth was hanging open.

"P-paralyze?" Po gulped. "That-… That'll KILL her!"

Po saw Tai Lung's shoulders quiver. He felt his insides twist with the news before burning anger came to his nose. The panda pulled Tai Lung to his feet and threw a haymaker into the snow leopard's face. The snow leopard's feet left the ground as he reeled with the blow.

"Do you realize what you've done?!" Po spat. "Layla's going to DIE because of you!"

Tai Lung didn't have time to shake the stars from his head when Po hauled him to his feet again. Spinning the snow leopard, Po locked Tai Lung's arms behind his back and pushed him toward a small shack inside the garden. Swinging open the door to the small building, the panda planted a kick into the snow leopard's back. Tai Lung stumbled inside before tripping and landing in a heap. Po kicked a barrel near the door and it rolled onto Tai Lung's lap, pinning him to the ground. The snow leopard's eyes adjusted to the darkness of the shack and to his horror, he saw fireworks of all sizes around him.

Po stood in the doorway, shoulders arched and his green eyes narrowed.

"You are better off to everyone dead as a doornail." The panda hissed.

Seizing a match from his shoe, Po struck it on the door frame. He held the flame to near to the closest wick and gave Tai Lung a rigid stare. But before the fire kissed the wick, someone from behind pushed his hand down. Po spun and saw Layla standing beside him. She managed a smile as she clutched her chest.

"Taking Tai Lung's life won't solve anything, Po." The vixen heaved.

The panda's face softened.

"But what he did to you-" Po began.

Layla squeezed his wrist and shook her head. There was nothing anyone could do. Po pinched his eyes shut, knowing the vixen to be right. The panda dropped the match. Layla held grateful yet fading yellow eyes to Po's.

"Thank you." She voiced, leaning on the doorframe.

But then a hiss cut through the solemn silence. Looking down, they saw that the match had lit a wick lying on the floor. Po and Layla scrambled to get Tai Lung unstuck. Pulling the heavy barrel off of the snow leopard, the three frantically clamored for the exit as the wick grew rapidly shorter. Tai Lung grabbed Layla and shot for safety. Po, Tai Lung and Layla made it to the opposite side of the garden when the first firework blew. Seconds after, it ignited a chain reaction. Hisses, whistles and loud pops blew open the building and fireworks of all sizes shot high into the air, lighting up the valley.

The chaos carried on for several long seconds before the majority of the explosives detonated. A shockwave flew over the Jade Mountain and sent a shattering echo through the Valley of Peace. After seconds of pure madness, a clap of thunder was heard. Lifting their heads, Tai Lung and Po looked over to the shed. Though the shack was on fire, the final rouge fireworks shot into the air and exploded as rain began to fall.

"Layla?" Po pushed Tai Lung off of the silvery vixen.

But Layla lie still. Fear gripped Po as he saw the lifelessness in her breathing. He crouched over Layla's limp body.

"Layla?" The panda felt for a pulse on her wrist.

There was a pulse in the vixen's body, but just weakly her heart moved.

"Layla?" Po commanded, trying to revive her. "Layla! Don't Layla! I know you're still in there! Layla!"

Po tapped her cheek and flicked her ears, in an effort to bring her back. Nothing, no response. The panda looked up, wanting to ask Tai Lung how to nullify the Wu Dai Nerve Strike. But the snow leopard was no where to be seen. Po's mouth went dry and he felt his heart quicken as thunder rolled across the sky.

Just then Master Shifu and the Furious Five came running out of the pavilion's hallways. Then the red panda's eyes came to Po and Layla. The vixen was lying motionless in the rain as the panda desperately tried to revive her.

"Master! Master, what do I do?!" Po pleaded.

Shifu rushed out into the rain as did the Furious Five. Viper gasped and Monkey's eyes went wide. Tigress crouched next to Po and Layla. Only Crane stood silently.

"Tai Lung gave her the Wu Dai Nerve Strike and now she's unconscious! What do I do?" Po hurried.

The look on Shifu's face was bleak.

"Does she have a pulse?" Mantis questioned.

"Yes, but it's very weak." The panda answered.

Moving to the side, Po allowed his master and Mantis to look over Layla. Shifu checked her pulse and then her eyes. He and Mantis gulped quietly.

"We must get her inside quickly." Shifu instructed. "And the rest of you! Put out those fires!"

The roof the Hall of Heroes caught fire in the explosion. Viper, Tigress, Monkey, Mantis and Crane moved to douse the flames before they got worse. Po lifted Layla from the ground and followed Shifu toward the sleeping quarters.

To my awesome reviewers:

Blood Dragon JL: I hope this chapter moves action through your veins!

Wolf Mystic: It's the school of Hard Knocks for our favorite snow leopard!

corset-rebellion-follower: Tai Lung will never give up! He's psycho in a way I can only admire!

RemTar85: No joke... Okay maybe...

D.J. Striker: Action is my middle name. And I agree; an arena surrounded by flames and dancing sock monkeys would be a lot cooler than some borin' training yard...

R&R! LONG LIVE ROCK!