Author's Note: Howdy! You are not reading the summary wrong, this is in fact the TRUE sequel to Fragile Hearts. (Told ya I would get to it eventually!) I once again have the whole story figured out, and this time... Well, let's just say that I don't think any of you are ready for what I have planned! :) If you thought last one was heart-wrenching, then this is going to be a whole different level of- Okay, let's not hype up things too much. After all, I have barely gotten halfway through writing chapter 2 due to personal developments. But believe me when I say that I've got things down real good here. Now, let's begin.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP (Let's get on with it!)

Enjoy.

City of Heaven, City of Terror

Darkened clouds bury the night sky in their thick plumes, silencing the regiments of stars seeking to guide any sleepless souls to their destination. A veil of darkness to block out the celestial guardians up above. Yet, in spite of their best efforts, a single crack within these malicious curtains allows for a sliver of light to pierce through, the moon not allowing itself to be silenced by this thick shroud of darkness.

This pale, ghostly luminescence bears down on the tall buildings below, leaving a soft yet eerie glint on the many golden decorations and intricate patterns adorning them. These magnificent structures bathe in this soft light, allowing the shadows to devour the city's streets and alleyways. Not even their shorter, somewhat modest brethren are able to be blessed by the moon's gentle protection. However, none of these exquisite buildings is more deserving of this loving light than the palace situated at the far end of the city. None of them can come close to its majesty in spite of the pain-staking work put into them. Not even close. For this is no mere palace, nor does it preside in some meagre city. It's brilliance mirrors that of the heavens themselves, only fitting to house China's godly emperor.

Golden dragon statues further reflect the moon's gentle light, giving a phantom-like quality to the palace's protectors as its outer walls stand tall alongside the perimeter guards. A bright white infects the metallic intricacies of the three-story pavilion at the front of the palace, this pale light becoming more meagre as it reaches the humbler accommodations for the palace's staff. After this, four more buildings radiate from this protective spotlight, housing the emperor's trusted advisors. Yet, of all these structures, the one by the very end of this complex shines the brightest. The emperor's personal tower. It's guardian phoenix standing at the very top gives an evangelical glow in response to the heavens' protective shine. No matter what time of day, this palace remains as China's crowning jewel, the beating heart of the forbidden city.

Amidst this pale white glow, a simple male goat can be seen scurrying out of the servant's quarters located to the left of the pavilion, with blue imperial robes draped across his white fur. He sighs to himself, mentally cursing at the fact he always has to go out at this ungodly hour for supplies. Whether it be food, materials, clothing; the only thing that never changes for this servant is the time when he should retrieve them. Gods forbid him wanting to swap shifts with another servant, as if anyone would dare want to go outside near the stroke of midnight.

Granted, working for the emperor certainly has its benefits. Some of the best food China has to offer, a pleasant work environment aside from a few egotistical employees, and let's not even get started about the pay. However, as the goat servant looks to the buildings making up the palace, he realises that none of these benefits have delighted him more than their artistry. Patterns of dragons and phoenixes line the sides of the emperor's seven-story tower whilst tapestries telling of ancient tales cover the outer walls of the palace's pavilion, a certain turtle making his appearance in a majority of them. Such beauty, such elegance that he doubts even the Gods could replicate. Or at least, that can be said about all, but the guard towers posted by each corner of the palace's walls.

So plain, so simple. Of course, they didn't need any additional decoration, but he'd be lying if he said they didn't stand out. Yet, their extravagance is a necessary sacrifice for the emperor's safety. Ah, yes, the final benefit of his job. Safety. Criminal activity was scarcely seen within the city due to the imperial army's overwhelming presence, and boy is he thankful for that. He can't even imagine being a servant for the Jade Palace or Gongmen city. Even with the promise of meeting such capable masters, they have had their fair share of invasions and in worse cases even their home's destruction. No-one would dare attack the forbidden city, let alone the emperor's palace.

Then again, something about the night has always frightened the goat to an unreasonable degree. The idea of some horrid monster pouncing from the shadows and consuming him whole hasn't left his mind since he was a kid. Childish, yes, but with recent happenings, not entirely implausible. As he ponders on these events, the servant walks towards the front gates and gives the rhino soldiers standing guard a quick wave. They let him out without argument, allowing him to continue these thoughts.

Three months ago, they had received word of Nuba's defeat. At first none of the staff, not even the emperor himself could believe what they had heard. That myth was real? And the dragon warrior had beaten her? How? These questions were soon answered and instead of calming him, the answers had only made the goat more concerned. The imperial guards, people he had entrusted his safety to, were so easily bypassed in Chorh Gom prison. So many people murdered and not a single piece of evidence was left behind. If someone like that had existed, then what else is out there?

He soon shakes off this thought and continues forward, focusing on the task at hand. As he steps down the palace steps, the servant descends into the shadowy streets, now a far cry from their usual affluent liveliness. Not a single soul wanders along the city's neatly tiled roads nor is there a single merchant's stand on any sidewalk. This haunting emptiness greets the goat like an old friend and as per usual, he returns this greeting with hunched shoulders and clenched hooves. A chilling breeze dances on the few parts of his fur exposed from his robes, mocking the quivering goosebumps forming on his skin.

Yet somehow, this spectral air isn't what forces his very breath to shiver. Instead, the lack of light is what truly makes his heart more rigid than a soldier standing at attention. The streets of his home serve as a complete juxtaposition to the boisterous palace overlooking it, almost as if it is expelling the moon's spotlight so it can be draped in a blanket of obsidian. Luckily a few lanterns here and there allow the goat to still see where he is going, but their dim orange glow is merely a dent in the shadows' expansive reach. With each step he takes, he feels this uncanny blackness beckoning over to him, hoping to drape him in its unearthly void. However, the servant keeps his eyes focused on the tailor's shop near the end of the road.

What should he be afraid of anyway? The imperial guards are still patrolling the city after all. The same guards that Nuba had easily snuck past… He shoos this pesky thought away, already knowing that it will only panic him further. As he gets closer and closer to his destination, the goat finds himself enthralled in the modest lantern hanging outside the tailor's shop, its yellow flame now a warm beacon within this shadowy fog. Just a few more buildings, that's all. Granted, he will need to go back through this unnerving night, but at least he will see a friendly face soon. He only counts five buildings left until he reaches some form of safety. So close… Until…

"Get away from me!"

An ear-piercing scream rings out across the streets, instantly paralysing the goat right where he stands. His fur stands on end, each white hair soon turning to icicles as his body freezes in terror. A hard gulp exits the goat's mouth as he slowly turns towards the source of the sound.

"Someone! Please! Help me!"

Yet another horrific scream stabs into his ears, the voice sounding less mortal and more akin to a banshee's ghoulish wail. His heart bashes into his ribcage, with wave upon wave of terror coursing through his veins. Though his body violently trembles, the servant doesn't run away. Instead, his body tells him to find the source. Now why would he do such a thing? If that person needs help, then the guards are more suited towards that. Is it curiosity? As if any answer is worth dying for. No, he needs to run. He needs to get out of-

"Ahhhhh!"

With this tremendous shout, the goat's head darts directly towards a shadowy alley across the road pathetically lit by a dim red lantern, finally locating where these screams have been coming from. However, his face grimaces at the guttural nature of the voice. Its timbre is now cracked, their scream deforming into some kind of freakish sob, an amalgamation of horror in its purest form. For whatever reason, he finds himself fixated on that very alley with a horrified sense of intrigue permeating his gaze. Intrigue that not even he understands.

Before his mind can ponder on this any longer, his body moves away from his previous path and finds itself going towards the source of these nightmarish screams. More chilling, primal screams emanate from the blackened alley, making his heart pound against his chest even faster. Yet, in spite of his poor heart pleading for him to run away, the goat only goes closer towards these sounds of torment, his mind no longer having any control over his own feet. As he gets closer and closer towards the alley, these tormented screams only grow louder, forcing him to wince as they pierce into his poor eardrums with an unrelenting pain.

Within five agonising seconds, his quaking hooves finally reach the opening of the alley. Shadows lather the side street, only giving way to the ominous red lantern hanging just above the goat. It doesn't reach far down however, only illuminating the very front of the alley's dirt covered floor and casting a hideous sheen onto its stone walls. This red light reveals one more thing. Something that bludgeons the servant's very soul. A female antelope, writhing on the floor. Her hooves dart around her sporadically, no aim or direction in their haphazard movements. Frantically kicking the air, her legs convulse and bang against the ground in a freakish attempt to keep… something at bay. Whatever it could be, the goat has little idea. With each scream that exits the antelope's mouth, her chest expands drastically as if each breath she takes could be her very last. Waves of tears flood her eyes and swarm her cheeks, dampening her now pale fur. Yet, the goat notices something… haunting about her bloodshot eyes. Neither eye has an iris nor a pupil. Instead, only two white eyes stare up into the blackened sky, now reddened from her endless tears.

"Get away from me! Get away from me! Agh! Help! Someone help me! Please!"

Yet another shrill, broken scream escapes the poor antelope, the alley's red hue only fuelling the servant's terror further. Amidst her undeniable torment, he tries to do something but not a single thought comes to mind. That is, until he hears rapid and heavy footsteps coming from the street he has just come from. The guards. Thank the Gods, now they can find some way to help this poor woman. He runs out the alley and calls to them, desperately waving his arms in the air so they can see him, unaware of two dark blue orbs boring at the alleyway within the shadows. They watch this event with demented satisfaction, feasting on the uncontrollable fear emanating from this terrifying scene. These eyes disappear within this blanket of darkness just as the imperial guards arrive, none the wiser to its presence.

I loved writing this chapter so much! I love horror stuff and this was probably the best way I could think to start this story. I hope you guys are ready for whatever is to come, because I've got huge plans! As for when I'll update... We'll see when I've got the time. Yeah, the update schedule will be fairly sporadic unfortunately, but don't worry I'll make sure that each chapter will be worth the wait! (Big words I know, but I can back them up) Anyways, I hope you've enjoyed the start of another crazy journey and until next time :)