A/N: Hello! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been working on something else besides this (not a fanfiction) and it has (sadly?) taken a lot of my time. Well, here I am again, updating. Hope you enjoy this.

"I'll spare you the details," said Tai, "but when Mei and her family arrived, they warned us about the army that now knocks at the Valley of Peace's door. My father tried to get the Council to okay the marshalling of the full Guard, but it was denied. It was folly and traitors that were the downfall of Mengyou City. One night, the city was attacked and my parents taken hostage. We escaped but learned about their plans before leaving. Then, we journeyed to here..."

The tiger, heir to the throne in Mengyou City, told a tale in the fashion that Wi had, about their long travels. They sat their, enraptured by this tale Tai weaved. Nobody spoke with the exception of Shang and Mei who filled in details. They would show whatever proof they could, pulling out objects and showing them. Tai glanced at Tigress. Her arms were still crossed but her eyes didn't have such hardness in them. Was she truly warming up to them, albeit marginally? Tai continued on, his hands gesturing out sometimes to emphasize a point. He even saw a look of feint recognition flash across Tigress's face when he mentioned the ancestors. Finally, when Tai mentioned Kamon being Oogway's nephew, she stopped him.

"Hold it right there," she said, drawing the attention of everyone. "Oogway had a nephew?"

Tai nodded.

"Believe it or not, he did. Oogway taught Kamon personally, even before Shifu."

"Master Shifu," said Po out of the side of his mouth. Tai quickly corrected himself.

Tigress didn't look convinced. She smirked.

"So the nephew of Oogway himself taught you kung fu?"

Tai shrugged. "I guess."

Po's mouth dropped open. He finally made the connection.

"Woah! That's awesome. What did he teach you?"

Tai looked straight into Tigress's eyes, ignoring Po's question.

"Would this prove it to you?"

Tai reached inside his cloak and pulled out a simple piece of paper. He handed it out to Tigress.

"A letter from Oogway to Kamon."

Tigress snatched up the letter, her eyes gliding over the lines of Chinese, absorbing every detail and word Oogway had written. It sounded and looked like Oogway's writing, there was no doubt. Without noticing it, she felt herself more trusting of these three now she had some proof. One last thing though would really tell her if these were truly who they said. She returned the parchment and Tai tucked it away. Tigress stared at the fire. Silence hung in the air as everyone waited for what she would say next.

"You said you met ancestors. How?"

"Well," began Tai, "they would appear and disappear, sometimes they would talk and other times they would stay silent. On one occasion, Li," Tai saw the look of confusion on their faces, "my first ancestor of the Shandian Clan, gave me this."

He lifted his paw up, facing his palm towards them. The red, iridescent ink gave a harsh reflection in the firelight.

"A tattoo?" asked Viper.

Tai withdrew his paw and rubbed his slowly – he was getting uncomfortable talking about this subject.

"You could say that."

"What's it for? What's it mean?" asked Mantis.

Tai looked up sharply.

"It is a Peace Mark," he replied, his voice almost nonexistent.

The Furious Five were taken aback, leaving Po perplexed.

"Peace Mark?"

Tigress nodded. Her doubts were nearly blown away. From what history Master Shifu had them study, she remembered the Shandian Clan being mentioned along with this infamous Peace Mark.

"Yes Po, the Peace Mark," said Tigress. She proceeded to give a brief overview of it. Po's eyes glanced back and forth between Tigress and Tai – though mostly his paw. When she finished, Po let out a loud,

"Ohhhhhhhhh. That Peace Mark. That sucks, man."

"You have no idea," said Tai, a sad smile on his face.

"Can you continue. What about your training with Kamon?" asked Po, changing the subject to one less touchy.

"I think we can all tell you about that," said Mei. Everyone's eyes moved from Tai to Mei. Tai was immensely relieved, storytelling was something he'd rather not do again. Mei started by stating that she was going to share just three of the most monumental things Kamon taught them separately: how to overcome their flaws.

Mei laughed as she started her own experience.

"I hate water, I still do but not as much now. The ironic part about this all is it was almost an exact repeat of when Shang was afraid of water. Quite simply, Shang and Tai pulled, pushed, heaved, and kept me in the water. Kamon would stand at the banks, staring down at me with my arms being held down by these two and he would slowly tell me what to do. Sometimes, we would do our lessons in the water – which pissed me off to no end – but it helped." Mei sighed. "Kamon might have had a rather unorthodox method as a kung fu Master. It was more like a military instructor, but he helped me overcome my fear of water. As I said before, I still hate it, but I can live with it."

Shang cleared his throat. He wasn't good at turning his thoughts into words, meaning he had to think long before he said anything.

"When Kamon told me my flaw was my pride and my unwillingness to accept anything other than success, I laughed. I thought he was wrong; that right there proved him right. I was too arrogant to see that it was true. He kicked that out of me rather quickly. I would be last to do something worth doing and first to be volunteered for any chore – no matter how disgusting." He paused, thinking about what else he was going to say next. "As for the failure part, he would give me impossible tasks. I was frustrated to no end and wouldn't give up. Finally, I did. It felt horrible but Kamon showed me what he was trying to show me. He said I needed to accept failure, not live with in it, but accept it sometimes. Always going forward would get myself killed or hurt. I saw his logic, but I still don't think it's all the way true. Other than that, he helped me get better at kung fu."

With two of the three of their new friends having told their stories, they shifted gazes expectantly to the lanky tiger. Tai's attention never left the ground but he spoke loud and clear.

"Kamon taught me how to defend myself. He showed me how to stand up and control Gu-Yi. Gu-Yi is a terrible curse that makes those in the Shandian Clan loose all control and return to the way of the first ancestors. In a sense, you could call it wild, feral, primeval, and a whole lot more. At first, I refused to learn anything that could hurt others. That meant any attacks I wouldn't use. Before I go any further, I must say that I already knew a lot of kung fu doctrine and the moves, I just couldn't do them. Kamon showed me how to use them; to unlock inner chi. He succeeded and I was able to succeed in all but offense. He would have me meditate and he coached me on how to control the subconscious rage that builds, signifying Gu-Yi. Finally, I conquered that ancient curse - well, not entirely, but I have a better rein on it. Then, came the hard part. He directed me through the offensive moves. I would copy but never use them. Then one day, he had Shang leave and come back disguised as someone else - I didn't know about this. Then he came back, in his disguise as a bandit. It didn't occur to me that this was a test, in retrospect, it was all too obvious. But, anyhow, Mei was 'captured.' Shang, in his disguise, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. I hesitantly took my position and much to my still utter astonishment, I attacked. It was choppy, but when I used my defense and combined it with the offense I knew would work, I actually achieved it! I beat Shang! Well, not quite. I still don't know exactly what happened. So, there you have it, all of our stories."

Tigress took a deep breath. She didn't know what to say. An awkward silence, besides the crackle of the fire, took over the camp. The moon had started its final climb to its throne high in the middle of the night sky and the stars had begun speed up their waltz to a foxtrot. She was sure, now, that they truly were who they said they were. Tai's elaboration with their experiences with Kamon and his star pond were odd, but seemed true now. Kamon – this was someone she would have to meet one day.

Po yawned. It was contagious and others were yawning as well. Shang stretched his body, reaching up to the sky. He blinked wearily.

"I think it's time to go to bed. No questions asked, okay? Good."

The fire was dimmed somewhat and prone bodies now lay near the fire, letting its warmth seep into them, casting away the chill of the night. Gentle snores could be heard from Shang and louder ones yet could be heard from the panda as his belly rose and fell. Embers glowed cherry red in the darkness as the fire began to weaken and then dissipated entirely. Mei moved closer to Shang for warmth and the others curled up tighter or covered themselves with any other blankets they could spare. The moon continued on its ancient walk from horizon to horizon.

Tigress's golden eyes glowed in the dark as she was still awake. She lay there, pondering all that had happened from the very beginning of when they met Tai, Shang, and Mei all the way to where they were now. She blinked and rolled over, trying to get comfortable. Part of her was glad that they were going back to the Valley of Peace; she had felt a bit homesick. The other side of her was still screaming defiantly – why wasn't she avenging Master Shifu? And another thing, who was this Tai? She scratched her wrist, ruffling the fur. From her side, she could see were they would be heading tomorrow, following Tai.

Tai. Someone who was destined to meet them, the one with the crooked tail. The thin tiger who hated fighting yet fought with cunning and defense. Fighting with defense. Those very words didn't make sense to her. You were either on defense or you were on offense, it was as simple as that. It was just as alien as defending with offense. No, she did that all the time. To force your opponent back so that way they couldn't attack was defense. Their fighting styles were the exact opposite, yet he had won out somehow.

"How did he do it?" she asked herself.

"I truly don't know either."

Tigress jerked up, her paws at a ready stance. Tai sat somewhat away from her, but close enough that he could have heard what she said.

"Huh?"

"I don't know how I beat you. I think it was luck or fate, probably an accident."

Tigress smiled and quoted Oogway, "There are no accidents."

Tai looked up and disbelieving smile on his lips. "Okay, if you say so. Still, I would like to know how I did win."

Tigress looked away and started at her paws, looking them over, as if they held the answer. Maybe Tai's paws did.

"Could it have been Gu-Yi?"

Tai was clearly taken aback.

"I will not associate any victory with that," his voice was tight and held an edge to it. "I will not become the monster it tries to subdue me into becoming." He ended the sentence with a low growl but his voice softened back to its normal tone. "No, Gu-Yi had nothing to do with it."

"What about Dragons?"

"Perhaps. I've had run ins with a couple Dragons."

"What were their names?"

"Can't tell, he said so."

Tigress leaned back.

"What if I guessed?"

Tai shrugged. "Be my guest, but I doubt you will get them."

"Xiaofang?"

Tai's mouth almost dropped open, not unlike Crane's, but he snapped his jaw shut quickly. It hung loose fully though when Tigress mentioned Senlin-Mu.

"How did you know?" he breathed.

"I've met them too."

Tai shook his head.

"What did they say to you? Or can you not tell?"

"I can tell. All they told me was that I needed to look out for one with a crooked tail. Something about him helping me."

Tai hid grin. Finally. Finally had he helped someone and had actually become useful. His tail, still bent forever, swished with excitement.

"Well," he said, a slight quaver in his voice, "you found me."

"Yes," replied Tigress. "I think I owe you an apology."

"What for?"

"For not trusting you. I should've listened to the Dragons and should haven't let my paranoia get a hold of me like that."

"Eh, it's fine. I can understand."

There was a comfortable silence between the two tigers as they thought over what had just been said. Tigress looked at Tai who had been looking at her with that same intensity as he had when they first met them. He turned his attention away quickly, pretending to stare at some grass. She saw the tip of his tail twitch just slightly. She shrugged and, much to her happiness, she yawned. At least she would get some sleep tonight instead of lying awake for the entire time. She lay back down.

"Well, then," said Tai, seeing Tigress get back on her sleeping mat, "good night. I hope our journey goes rather easily tomorrow. We, being Shang, Mei, and I, have had not an easy time getting to where we are now."

Tigress rolled over onto her stomach and looked up, supporting her torso with her elbows.

"You talk weird."

Tai formed a small o with his mouth. He paused there, think of a way to justify his weird way of talking. He gave up.

"I guess I do. But that's because I studied language at the University. I try to speak properly."

Tigress's curiosity rose. "What's this University you talk about?"

Tai was now in familiar territory. Knowledge and learning came to him almost like a second nature.

"The University is a place were animals go if they pass a test after they school for a certain number of years. It is located in Mengyou City and is home to some of the finest scholars in all of the China. The only other school that really does compete with it is the one located in the Imperial City, though I doubt it. We are number one in all of China. Maybe even the entire Eastern World."

Tai's chest was filled with pride at the University and Mengyou City, but he deflated when the memories at the flames that had razed Mengyou City and those two cursed wolves, howling their triumph to the sky and his parents kneeling down in bitter defeat. He lifted his lips slightly, baring his teeth. He felt hot all of a sudden, a fire had been kindled in his mind. A voice, his own voice, roaring at him.

They will suffer! Their entrails will be spewed out and left for the worms to feast upon. Their faces will be the epitome of true suffering.

The voice was so loud, it felt like his skull was being shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. He clutched at his head and clenched his teeth. The pressure felt like it was going to blow his head apart. He desperately tried to bring his palm up, but it didn't seem to respond. Suddenly, it was lifted up and it seemed as if cool water flowed over him as the Peace Mark glowed a brilliant red and then faded again to be the tattoo it was. He looked at his wrist. Tigress's paws were wrapped around it. She had pushed his paw up.

"Thank you," he whispered, slightly out of breath. "I don't know why that happened. Usually I have much better control of it."

"I have a temper," admitted Tigress suddenly. "So I know what to look for. I also studied a good amount. Found a little about Gu-Yi, kept it memorized randomly."

Tai sighed. "I think it's time we both went to bed. Tired and running are not a good combination. I have first hand experience."

"So do I," smirked Tigress, though she didn't like the memories.

As the two tigers went to their own mats, the moon seemed to whisper to the stars. Their conversation was carried across the Heavens and it seemed to drift through the winds as well. The leaves rustled with the speech of the moon and stars. The rivers burbled loudly, telling the grass what had been said. Finally, the dandelion seeds, with their parachute like tops, floated, carrying what message they had to say.

The Peach Tree of Sacred Wisdom's leaves moved, buffeted slightly by the wind. If you listened carefully, you could hear the wind speak to the tree.

They are on their way, it whispered, in its warm, ghost-like voice.

A sudden burst of wind took off some of the Peach Tree's leaves. They swirled around in the mini tornado. All was still as soon as the leaves settled. A apparition of the red panda, Master Shifu, stared out to the lands beyond. He smiled.