A/N: Last chapter! So relieved and excited. Enjoy.

Crane cawed out triumphantly and flew furiously toward the Jade Palace. The villagers were back and the village had been cleaned up. Li-Chow soldiers – all that still lived – had been stationed at regular intervals to welcome the villagers in as well. A cheer broke out among the crowd when they spotted the Furious Five, the Dragon Warrior, and even Tai, Shang, and Mei. Commander Zhou blew his bugle and the soldiers went to an at ease position. Little was known to the villagers about the pure size of the battle. The buildings had been reconstructed to everyone's best ability so that the villagers didn't have to deal with too much damage. The Heroes of the Valley of Peace were almost crushed beneath the tide of animals that rushed to them, all trying to speak at once. China had been saved again by their own home town heroes, how much more could they have to boast? The best warriors, the safest place in China, and the best noodles! No other province or area could claim that. It was a time for rejoicing and the villagers did. All of them ran to their houses and put back their belongings. Kites were taken out to celebrate and the cooks around the village began to prepare a massive party for everyone – making sure there was enough for Po as well. The smells of food and the sound of chatter filled the Valley once more. A peaceful time once again was here and, to the villagers, it was here to stay.

Po lifted up his tray of food as he narrowly avoided two small bunnies playing tag. Shang watched them pass as he caught up to the panda. They were both headed to Mr. Ping's soup shop. The goose had set up a special table for them and offered them discounted prices because of their victory. Mr. Ping was especially pleased that Po had been able to keep his store intact as well as he had. Laughter filled the streets as villagers talked with the Patrol members and over it all was the hubbub of conversation. Shang stepped over a puddle of spilled soup and continued walking.

"You really think you'll be able to eat all that?" asked Shang, looking skeptically at Po's tray, piled high with food.

"No," said Po. He was already chomping down on some bean buns. "I know I will. I'm so hungry I think I could eat a house."

"Probably not very good for your health," commented Shang dryly. "Besides, it wouldn't have much flavor."

"Point taken," acknowledged Po. He thought for a while, moving from bean bun to rice cake. Cake! "Then I would be able to eat an entire cake the size of a house."

"That's something I would like to see."

"Me too."

Mr. Ping's place was already filled with animals trying to talk with the Furious Five and the other three who had saved their homes. Tai was flustered and tried to be polite as he could, but inside he was still hurting. Mei gladly conversed with whomever, but really wanted to get back to a talking with Monkey who had been in the middle of telling a rather funny story. Mantis had a crowd of children captivated as told the story of the battle in a Po-like fashion. In other words, their was a lot of exaggeration. Mr. Ping had also set up a shop where he sold figurines. He had caught onto the idea when he had seen how popular they were selling, so he decided to get a wing into the business. The goose was actually doing quite well. Mainly because he had been able to release the 'new edition' figures of Tai, Shang, and Mei before anyone else had. Competitors were catching up, but Mr. Ping was sure he would have a surplus of coin before the end of the night. When a bunny ran up to Tai, asking for him to sign one of his action figures, he was even more flustered. The tiger looked over and around the figurine at least twenty times, in pure disbelief that it was him as a hero. Shang plopped down next to Tai. Mei was right beside Shang as well.

"You know you've got a couple other fans waiting for your signature," said Shang.

"Look at this! It's me! Smaller and made of wood!" exclaimed Tai.

The bunny who owned it smirked. "Uh, duh, who else would it be?"

Tai's eyes just got wider. He took a quill and wrote his name meticulously where the bunny had pointed out. Handing it back, he took a deep breath and smiled. Animals liked him now. He wasn't the oddball, or the royalty who you couldn't even associate with. No longer was he a target for the bullies. He wasn't even the young tiger that others used to always associate him. He was a hero in animal's eyes now. How sweet that sounded to his ears. Never had he expected to be called a hero, let alone be where he was now. Yet he was.

Hero.

A word he would have never associated himself with. But what qualified himself as a hero? He frowned and continued to sign figurines. As the last child walked up, he turned to her and asked her point blank.

"Why am I a hero?"

Laughter and talk were load enough, so Tai was surprised when he heard her answer loud and clear.

"You saved us." The little child cocked her head to the side.

"What does a hero mean, though?"

"I don't know. I just know you are one," her confident reply was. "Will you sign that please? I want to show my mommy."

"Alright," said Tai, still wondering what it meant, hero. He had heard it time and time again, yet now he truly wondered what it meant. After all, he was one now and he wanted to know what it meant. He handed back the figure to the little girl. She squealed with excitement and ran off waving her figure in the air in excitement. Tai studied the girl, watching as they started to reenact the battle scene in their own eyes. They fought off imaginary enemies and Tai saw the boy using the Crane figure swoop it up and down, pretending to attack from the air.

All of the little children kids moved the action figures in fighting kung fu moves, all doing what they believed where herculean feats of their own. Tai frowned though, when he saw his own figure being used to beat back a group of the enemy.

Claws flashed and blood spurted as he ripped apart his prey. The wolves would not escape, why would they even imagine they will? He roared and he felt his prey quake in their spots. Pain and grief, that was all they had caused and that was all they would feel. Their corpses would be his next meal. The pitiful followers of this alpha would flee as they watched their leaders devoured. Wolf meat, how would that taste? Would it be like that other meat? Or would it be soft and tender?

Tai shut his eyes as the memories started to pound down on him. He excused himself hastily from the table and went up the stairs to Po's bedroom. He sat on the bed, fighting back the memories. Terrible memories...

Yet another one was felled underneath him. He could feel the blood wetting his throat. It made him feel alive. Was there to still be more before he could catch his other prey? He clawed another one. Another roar started to fill his mind. He roared back in defiance. Then the army fell down on him. He fought savagely. Howdare they try to defeat him! Did they not know he was a Hunter and they were prey? They would pay dearly for the blood that they spilled. He tackled one to the ground. A blade sliced at his hide. His claws flashed once. The chest of the unlucky soldier was ripped open. Tai whirled and was on the downed soldier at once. The ribs were ripped off. The soft heart shuddered and stopped beating. This prey was dead yet there were still more.

Tai's breathing got faster. He lay down on the bed, curling up into a ball. His paws were clenched into fists and his body shook. His tail moved jaggedly; back and forth, up and down, in all directions. He gasped as the next wave hit him, yet this was different.

A golden thing was beside him, helping him. More came to help him, not to fight him. A vague recollection of his...friends? He felt his thirst for blood begin to lessen slightly, yet it still drove him. After that, all went dark and weird. Something made his vision blackout. He law sprawling on the ground, unsure of what to do. It was the confusion that scared him. The Hunter should not be confused, only the prey was to be confused and frightened and scared. A sudden silence overtook him. Then, an alien feeling began to fill his mind. It wasn'tall alien though. It seemed like a long lost idea, thought not as lost as he thought. He looked around, huffing, yet the prey was no longer there. He started to go in the direction he smelled them, but the golden thing attacked him! He swatted out in self defense. It collapsed. That would teach it for messing with him. But, that golden thing was familiar to him. It groaned and whispered a name. "Tai." The alien feeling began pushing back and it started to overtake him. He had done this. He had hurt a friend. He felt the outside idea accuse him of hurting a fellow friend. Friends? He was alone...PEACE!

Tai sat up, the memories were gone, retreating back into his mind. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. He felt nauseous. He began to feel it coming and ran to the nearest bucket. He vomited in it. Thankfully, none of the horrific feeding he had done during the battle came up. That would have just set him off – he would have probably fainted. Wiping his mouth, he sat back down on the bed. He looked around the room. The ninja stars were still there. The paintings of the Furious Five and Po's original action figures stood in glass cases. There was a stream of light that illuminated the room, giving it a soft tone. Scrolls and pamphlets – mainly about the Furious Five and kung fu – littered the room. He saw a painting of Po and Mr. Ping together. Po, in the picture, was still the short little bear, barely rising above his father's head. Tai felt conflicting emotions build within. He looked away and sat down. A small dent in the wooden floor drew his attention. He laughed when he remembered the story the goose had told them earlier that day. It was that fateful day, when the Dragon Warrior was to be chosen, that Po had tried to get up using the method taught in kung fu. To put it very simply, he had failed and put the dent in the floor. The once chubby panda was now a...

...Hero, thought Tai.

Tai looked down at the ground, staring at the dent. A knock on the door made him look up. It was Shang.

"May I come...what's that smell? And are you alright? You're sweating!"

Tai was embarrassed and his eyes darted back and forth between the Golden cat and the bucket. "Just battling myself," he allowed. "I don't like it."

Shang nodded. He wasn't good at this. Why did they have to choose him? Mei would have done a great job. Or Tigress, or Po, or anybody! Even Commander Zhou would have done a better job than he would have. He rubbed the back of his neck before answering.

"I'm sure it will get better," he replied. Immediately he felt stupid. "I mean...I think you can beat it."

"Really?" asked Tai, arching an eyebrow. "I sure hope so," he sighed. "It's painful and I don't want to have to always be haunted by these memories."

Shang felt that he could expound on something like this. "What kinda memories?"

"Bad ones. Nothing good. Nothing to hold onto either. I've got nothing to remember the good."

Shang pulled out the talisman and began to twirl it around, moving it expertly from one paw to the other. The Golden cat leaned against the doorframe as he played with the toy, waiting for Tai to notice it. He didn't. Shang cleared his throat.

"Alright, they said I shouldn't do it bluntly, but I don't see how else I'm gonna do it. Here."

Shang held the talisman out. Tai leaned forward to accept it. He studied it, his face contorted when he saw the two rings and the dreaded chain that had held his parents paws together through the holes drilled in. Too many things were going to his mind right now to know exactly what he was feeling.

"Do you like it? It's supposed to be a reminder of your parents. Mei thought it would be a good idea. Keep them close, you know. A flower did the same thing for Mei."

Tai looked up sharply. "A flower?"

"Yeah. A pretty one too. White and periwinkle," said Shang, recalling the flower. He whistled. "Nice, very nice."

Tai smiled and stared back at the rings that were intertwined. Senlin-Mu had asked him once about a flower. He didn't think he was talking about that one. Funny how things play out. He then saw the names that were etched into the rings. It was his father's and mother's handwriting. Their names carved on the inside of the rings. He gazed at them with eyes that lit up as he studied them.

"I think this is exactly what I need. And you did fine," he added, poking fun at Shang. "I think just tossing it in my face was perfect. A wake up call. Thanks."

"You're welcome. Just don't tell Mei I did it my own way and that it worked."

"Why not?"

"Just don't."

"Alright. I still don't get you and Mei."

"You won't until you ask Tigress."

Tai let his jaw drop before he spluttered out his protests. "Shuttup! Get out of here. I don't know what you are talking about."

"I do. You can't fool me. Though, its going to take someone insanely interesting to get her attention."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Just come to me if you need help. I'll be off."

Tai nodded as Shang shot back down the stairs. He sat back down on the bed, staring at the talisman. He clasped it on, letting it go down the collar of his shirt. He took a deep breath and looked around Po's room. His eyes locked on the corner. There were the specters of his parents. They looked at Tai with soft eyes and a slight smile. Sun had to force herself not to reach out for her son. He was beyond her now. But, defying all the rules, they spoke four words.

"You are our hero."

Tai's smiled and waved goodbye as they faded. They were still there, watching over him as stars in the sky. It wasn't like he had lost them totally. Their loss was still painful, but at least he felt their presence. He had a lot to do in the future, but right now was not the time for that. He heard laughter and got up. Now he had friends, now he had family – almost, and now he had an idea of where he was going. The stairs gave way to him being able to take in all that was before him. Shang motioned for him to take back his spot. He looked around at all of the faces, smiling, laughing, talking, or slurping down soup or chomping on dumplings. He looked at Tigress and smiled. To his surprise, she smiled back as well. Warmth blossomed in his chest. Maybe he was still slightly mishi – lost – but at least he had animals to guide him to where he needed to go. Yes, he had finally found his friends to guide him after a long journey.

A/N: Congratulations! If you are reading this that means you have actually read all my story! For that, I am grateful. It's nice to know someone takes the time to appreciate your work. Leave a review if you would be so kind. I don't care what it is about as long as it is at least constructive criticism. Any remarks, ideas (for the next one), pointers, encouragement, etc. are wonderful.

Thanks again for reading A Long Journey. You won't hear from again me until I get the next one worked out a bit more and actually have a bulk of it finished. Sorry; I like to work on one story at a time. Makes me concentrate on it more and I believe you get the best work out of people who do that - that's my opinion. But feel free to send me any ideas or pointers (as stated above)!

Thank you one last time!

-omnomswritings