See end for AN.

Chapter 2: Some Things never Change:

Fireworks filled the sky with bright colors and smoke. Arthur watched them as he and his companions walked down the road. He hadn't seen many fireworks outside the fourth of July, so they were quite the nice sight to behold. They walked for another three minutes when the front gates of a town could be seen in the distance. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief. He was tired of walking. Yao and the rabbit, who earlier said his name was Leng, cheered upon seeing the gates. They quickened their pace, the wagon's wheels bouncing over rocks on the path.

Arriving at the gates, they were greeted by a couple of rhino guards, each carrying a long spear. They immediately set their sights on Arthur, obviously suspicious of him. Yao and Leng vouched for him, assuring the guards he was an honest traveler. Accepting this, the guards allowed them through. Once inside, Arthur looked around the town.

The buildings and clothing of the towns people were quite primitive compared to his world. It seemed that not only had Oogway sent him to a different world, but also sent him back in time. He still didn't know the exact location though, however, the clothing style and the names of his traveling companions suggested somewhere in East Asia. Or maybe Tahiti. Arthur chuckled to himself with that thought.

"What so funny?" Leng asked curiously.

"I was...just thinking about old times," Arthur replied.

"Oh, okay," Leng said, "Were they good?"

"Most of the time," Arthur replied, "So, I've been meaning to ask, where are we?"

"The Valley of Peace," Leng replied.

"Naw, I mean like, what country?" Arthur clarified.

"Oh, we're in China," Yao replied, stopping the wagon next to a small building.

"China, huh?" Arthur questioned.

"Yes sir," Leng said, "I take it this is your first time here?"

"It is," Arthur replied.

"Well, you'll love it here," Yao said, "It's really beautiful, especially in the spring."

"And it's much safer thanks to the Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior," Leng said happily. Arthur raised a brow at him.

"Furious Five? Who are they?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, that's right, you're new here," Leng said, "The Furious Five are some of China's greatest kung fu warriors. They saved the valley more times than anyone can count."

"What about the Dragon Warrior?" Arthur asked.

"He's a new addition to Jade Palace," Yao replied, "That's the temple up there." He pointed to a large temple on top of a hill on the far side of town.

"He was chosen to lead the Furious Five last year," Leng chimed in, "Quite the spectacle."

"Was it that bad?" Arthur questioned.

"It was...different," Leng replied.

The door to the building opened, creaking as an old goat stepped outside. The three of them turned to him. He smiled when he saw Yao and Leng, but that quickly faded when he saw Arthur, who shrank under his intense gaze.

"Hey Ping," Yao greeted.

"Hi Yao," Ping said, "Who's your friend here? I've never seen anything like him."

"Uh, this is Arthur," Yao replied, "And... he's from, uh, a faraway land." Ping didn't seem convinced, but he accepted the explanation anyway.

"Alright, well, you guys have the supplies?" he asked.

"Yup, got'em right here," Leng replied, patting the wagon.

"Great! You guys can place the supplies in the shed there," he said, pointing to a shed behind him.

"Okay," Yao said, "Wanna give us a hand Arthur?"

"Sure," he replied.

Yao grabbed the handlebar to the wagon and wheeled it over to the shed. Leng removed the wood plank from the shed's door and pushed it open. Yao parked the wagon outside the door. He, Leng, and Arthur unloaded the boxes from the wagon and stacked them against the back wall of the shed. Despite the cold outside, Arthur actually broke a sweat. He wiped the sweat from his forehead as he left the shed, Yao and Leng following behind. After shutting the door, Leng put the plank back in place. He then led them down the street to a small tavern at the end.

"This is where we live," Leng said, opening the door, "There's a spare room upstairs. You're more than welcome to use it."

"I, uh, appreciate it," Arthur said, "But I don't know how long I'll be here. Or where I'll go."

"Well, you're welcome stay here till you find your way," Yao said.

"Thank you," Arthur said, following him and Leng upstairs. They led him down the hall to a room at the end. Yao opened the door and Arthur stepped inside.

The room was small, but fully furnished with a bed and a dresser. A small window gave a clear view of the town and Jade Palace. Leng gave Arthur a key from his pocket before he and Yao went back downstairs.

Arthur closed the door and sat down on the bed. He removed his hat and set it down beside him. He ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a deep sigh. The events of the day were finally catching up to him, in particular, the inhabitants of this world. Why talking animals? It didn't make sense to him. He remembered Yao saying they were in China, which meant he was still on Earth, albeit in an earlier time period. So why were the people animals? Oogway didn't mention this. Arthur then wondered if Oogway was an animal himself, as he didn't have a defined shape in the spirit world.

Arthur stood up and walked to the window. He looked over the town, watching the townspeople going about their day. The layout of the town as resembled that of Valentine. Realizing this, he certainly hoped this time would be different.

He turned to sit down back on the bed when the sound of a bell and frantic voices grabbed his attention. Looking out the window, he could see the townspeople scrambling inside of the nearby building, their doors slamming shut. Arthur went back to the bed and grabbed his hat. He went to open the door when he heard rushing footsteps heading up the stairs and towards his room. He opened the door and peeked outside, seeing Yao running to him.

"Arthur!" he said.

"What's goin' on?" he asked.

"Bandits!" Yao replied, "They're attacking the village!"

"What do we do?" Arthur asked.

"Me and Leng have to secure the shed," Yao replied, "We could use your help, though."

"Okay," Arthur said, closing his room's door and following him down the stairs.

"What's in the shed?" Arthur asked.

"Gifts and gold," Yao replied as they reached the front door, "It's for the dignitaries coming to the festival tomorrow."

He opened the front door slightly and peeked outside. Seeing it was clear, he led Leng and Arthur back down the street and toward the shed. Stopping at a large, wooden box at the back, Yao opened the lid and pulled out a chain and a metal lock.

"Wrap the chain around the door, then secure it with the lock," he instructed.

Arthur and Leng went to the shed's door while Yao kept watch. They ran the chain between the plank and the door handles before slipping the ends on the lock. With the shed secure, they began sneaking back to the tavern when a couple of voices from a nearby alley made the stop in their tracks.

"Jinn said it was down here," one voice said.

"This had better be worth it," a second voice said, "It's only a matter of time before the Furious Five runs us outta here."

The bandits continued down the alley, the footsteps becoming audible. Yao and Leng quietly ran to the tavern. Arthur stood motionless, staring at the alley's entrance, his mind racing. He didn't want a return to his old way of life, but he also knew he couldn't let these bandits run rampant. With a heavy sigh, he made his decision.

Against the building next to the alley's entrance was an axe handle. He grabbed it with both hands and raised it over his shoulder. The bandits were closing in, unaware of his presence. Despite the chill of the day, Arthur could feel the sweat dripping down his forehead. His grip on the axe handle tightened when the bandits neared the alley's entrance, so much so their shadows were visible on the ground.

Finally, the two bandits, both wild boars, stepped into view. Both noticed Arthur, and the three of them stood motionless, their eyes locked with each other. After a few seconds, the bandits slowly reached for the swords on their hips.

Before they could reach them, Arthur swung the handle and struck the closest boar on the side of his head. He fell to the ground in a heap, a stream of blood staining the snow below him. The second boar drew his sword, using the blade to block a strike from Arthur. He forced the axe handle from his hands, raising his sword above his head and swung it down.

Arthur dodged the blade and drew his Bowie Knife, driving it into the boar's side. He cried out in pain, using the pommel of his sword to push him to the ground. He grabbed the knife and pulled it from his flesh, tossing it aside.

Arthur was dazed by the impact with the ground. He raised his head just in time to see the boar stop at his feet. The boar raised his sword a second time, preparing to end this fight. Suddenly, a small shape slammed into his side. The boar fell to the ground, his sword landing by Arthur's side. He quickly stood to his feet, shaking the earlier impact off. He turned to see Leng holding the boar in a choke hold, struggling to hold on. Arthur ran to his knife, Yao running past him.

Grabbing his knife from the snow, Arthur ran back to Yao and Leng, both pinning the boar to the ground. He stood over the boar, his grip on his knife tightening. The boar struggled to break free, Yao and Leng straining to keep him pinned.

"Arthur, kill him!" Leng shouted.

Arthur thrust the blade toward his heart. The boar saw him and kicked the knife from his hand. Yao and Leng began to lose their grip, leaving him with no time to grab his knife. He pulled his arm back and struck the boar in the face as hard he could. The boar's head slammed against the ground and his body went still, the steady rise and fall of his chest a sign he was still alive.

Arthur shook his hand, pain exploding in his knuckles. He could have sworn the boar's face was made of bricks. Yao took off his belt and tied the boar's hands together. He and Leng dragged him a few feet away and shoved him behind some crates. Arthur picked up his knife and sheathed it, slowly rubbing his sore knuckles.

"Hey, you alright," he heard Yao ask.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Arthur replied. Yao let out a sigh, running his hand over the top of his head.

"Well, we should get back inside," he suggested, "Let the guards and the Furious Five handle the bandits."

Arthur turned and looked down the alley. He could still hear the sounds of screams and fighting further in the town. His mind was again plagued by indecision. He knew there wasn't much he could do on his own, but he made a promise to do good. Steeling his mind, he walked to the axe handle and picked it up from the ground. He quickly made his way down the alley, draping the handle over his shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Yao called after him.

"To help," Arthur replied, "I made a promise."

"Promise to who," Yao asked.

"Oogway," Arthur replied as he rounded the corner and disappeared from view.

Yao stood motionless, Arthur's response stunning him. Leng approached and stopped beside him, staring down the alley. Both of them were at a loss for words. Finally, Leng spoke.

"Did he say, Oogway?" he asked.

"He did," Yao replied.

"But Oogway's dead," Leng said.

Both of them fell silent, their minds questioning who Arthur really was, where he came from, and how he knew Oogway.

Arthur quietly moved through the streets, following the sounds of battle. He passed several bodies of both towns people and bandits, their blood staining the snow. A scream made him jump, and he spun to the sound, gripping the axe handle so tight his knuckles turned white. He crept toward the sound, now hearing frantic voices coming from behind a store.

Stopping at the corner, he pressed himself against the wall and tiptoed towards the back. Peeing around the corner, he saw two bandits threatening a family of rabbits. One of them, a wolf, was armed with a bow, a large quiver of arrows strapped to his back. The other, a black bear, held a sword.

"Please! We don't have any money!" the father pleaded, standing between the bandits and his family.

"Does it look like we give a shit!?" the bear snarled.

"We don't!" the wolf said, "You better find something."

"I don't have anything, I swear!" the father begged, "Just let us go!" The bear stepped forward and placed the tip of his sword's blade against the rabbit's neck.

"Stop wasting our time!" he sneered, "Give us your valuables or we'll kill you!"

"After we make your family watch," the wolf chimed in.

Arhtur had enough of this. He quietly crept up behind the two bandits. One of the rabbit kits spotted him, his eyes going wide. Arthur pressed a finger to his lips, and thankfully the kit stayed quiet. He moved in closer, stopping just a couple feet behind them.

"Nothing?" the bear asked, the rabbit having remained silent, "Well then."

He raised his sword, preparing to strike the rabbit down. Arthur sprang into action, striking the bear on the head. He slammed face first onto the ground, his sword flying several away. The wolf tossed his bow aside and drew a dagger. Authur jumped to the side as the wolf thrust the blade toward his chest. He swung the axe handle the wolf's head, but he grabbed it mid swing and ripped it from his grasp.

Authur cursed and reached for his knife. Before the blade cleared leather, the wolf tackled him and pinned him to the ground. He struggled under the wolf's grasp, his hands barely keeping his dagger from plunging into his heart. A dull thud was heard, and the wolf froze in place. He stayed motionless for a few seconds before falling over and landing beside him.

Arthur looked the wolf, seeing a small puddle of blood appearing beneath his head. He then looked up and saw the rabbit father standing above him, clutching the axe handle. He locked eyes with Arthur, and they both stared at each other for nearly a minute. Finally, the rabbit spoke.

"Are you okay, stranger?" he asked, extending a hand.

"Yeah, I'm good," Arthur replied, taking the rabbit's hand, who then helped him to his feet.

"Um," the rabbit began, pausing for a moment to think, "Um...what are you?"

"I'm uh, a drifter from out of town," Arthur replied, brushing himself off and grabbing his hat, "Look, mister..."

"Jiang," the rabbit replied.

"You and your family should find a place to hide," Arthur said, "It ain't safe out here."

"Right," Jiang said, "Thank you, mister."

"No problem," Arthur said with a nod.

Jiang bowed and gave him the axe handle before gathering his family. Arthur watched as they quickly ran down a nearby alley and hid themselves inside a market stall. Satisfied they would be safe, he inspected the axe handle. A large crack traveled nearly the entire length, and a few chunks were missing. He figured he could probably get one more good hit before it broke completely. Arthur dropped the handle and started searching for the bear's sword when the sound of shattered tiles caught his attention.

On the roofs nearby, a wild boar tumbled over the tiles and fell out of view. The sound of splintering wood a second later revealed his fate. A wolf appeared in the boar's place, swinging a sword at an unseen assailant. His body contorted in a strange pose, then tumbled down the side of the roof, joining the boar on the ground.

Authur was confused by what he had just seen, and his confusion only grew when a large animal of some kind jumped on the roof. Its fur was colored black and white, and it was quite fat, the brown pants it wore were stretched to their limits.

"Dude that was awesome!" it shouted, the tone revealing it to be a male.

"I know right!" another male voice shouted, though Arthur couldn't see them.

"Guys!" a female voice shouted, "Get over here!"

"Crap!" the large animal said, "Come on, Mantis!"

He and this unseen 'Mantis' ran across the roof and jumped high into the air, disappearing around another building. Arthur stared for a moment longer before shaking his head. He had no idea what to make of what he just saw. Before he could ponder it anymore, he heard screams coming from the same way the large animal went.

Arthur pulled out his knife and rolled it in his palm. He could probably take on one bandit at a time with it, but he wouldn't last with a group. He looked at the ground and saw the wolf's bow lying a few feet away. He looked back at the wolf's body, eyeing the quiver of arrows on his back. He thought for a moment, letting out a sigh when he made a decision. He knew he wasn't good with a bow, but he didn't have much choice. He hadn't seen a gun since he arrived, so he could guess they didn't exist yet. Walking over to the wolf, he pulled the quiver off his back and secure it to his.

"Hope you taught me well, Charles," he said.

He picked up the bow and set off down a nearby alley, following the screams to the next fight.

Furious Five, ten minutes earlier:

Tigress leaped over a rock wall, landing hard on the back of a wolf. The wolf gasped as the air was forced from his lungs. Tigress slammed her fist into the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. She rolled off his back, narrowly avoiding a blade to the neck. Jumping to her feet, she drove her palm into the snout of a crocodile, sending him flying into a wooden cart, the wood splintering on impact. A boar sneaking up behind her caught an elbow to his chin. A kick to his face put him down for good. Normally, the Furious Five would only kill when it was unavoidable, but Tigress' patience was running thin.

They had been hard at work setting up Jade Palace for the festival when the town's warning bell rang. Upon hearing it, Master Shifu sent them to deal with the threat. None of them were happy about, as this was the third attack this month. Putting their frustration aside, they ran from the palace and into town.

Another wolf was sent flying several feet away, courtesy of Tigress' fist. Two crocodiles leapt over a stone wall to take his place. Both readied the large swords they carried. Tigress dug her heel into the dirt, preparing to jump. Before either side could move, a large shadow appeared over the crocodiles. They looked up and dropped their weapons in shock.

A large, black shape slammed down on top of them, sending dirt and snow flying in every direction. Tigress covered her face with her arms, growling when she felt herself being pelted by dirt. Lowering her arm, she watched as Po lifted himself from the ground. The two crocodiles lay in a small crater, groaning in pain.

"Do you see that, Tigress!?" he asked, pointing at the crocodiles.

"Yes, Po," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"How's it feel to be crushed by The Dragon Warrior!" he shouted at the bandits.

"Po! Focus!" Tigress shouted.

"Oh! Yes, Master Tigress!" he said.

She growled in annoyance and jumped onto the roof of a nearby building, heading towards the center of town. Po jumped after her, struggling to keep up. He really needed to lay off the bao buns. Jumping from roof to roof, they eventually made it to the town square. Down below, Monkey and Viper were currently fighting a large group of bandits. Crane was circling overhead, looking for an opening while dodging the occasional arrow. Mantis was in the corner, holding his own against two black bears.

Tigress leaped into the air and dropped into the fray. Po took a few deep breaths, psyching himself up for the fight. Once ready, he ran to the edge of the roof and jumped to the ground. A small crater appeared beneath him, the shockwave knocking a few bandits off their feet. Those still standing charged at him, their weapons raised high. Po barked out a laugh and balled his fists before meeting their charge.

Nearby, Monkey ducked under a blade from a leopard, the sharp metal passing just above his ears. Recovering quickly, he drove his palm into the leopard's chin, sending him flying. Hearing footsteps behind him, he spun on his heel and delivered a kick to the face of another leopard. A crocodile took his place, thrusting a spear toward his chest. Before the blade could strike flesh, a bright, green tail wrapped around the handle and ripped the spear from the crocodile's hands. That same tail then wrapped around his neck and threw him several feet away. The owner of the tail landed next to Monkey, giving him a smile.

"Close call," she said.

"Yes it was," Monkey replied, "Thank you, Viper."

"No problem, Monkey," Viper said, "Now let's give Mantis a hand."

She and Monkey moved through the square, joining the fight Mantis was in. Both ganged up on a rhino, quickly dropping him to the ground. This gave Mantis the opening he needed to take down the two boars that were launching arrows at Crane. Monkey leapt over another boar that attempted to stab him from behind, slamming his fist into his skull. Crane landed nearby, taking down a wolf with his wing.

By now, the remaining bandits realized they were fighting a losing battle. A gorilla near the front of the pack pulled a smoke bomb from cloak and slammed it on the ground, covering the square in a thick cloud of smoke. The bandits scattered through the alleys, disappearing the moment the smoke cleared.

"They're getting away!" Po shouted, "What do we do, Tigress!?"

"We split up!" she replied, "Crane, in the air! Monkey, Viper head left! Po, Mantis, center! I'll take right! Move!"

The Furious Five split to their assigned paths and pursued the fleeing bandits. Tigress was the first to leave, scaling the side of a building before running on all fours across the roof. Crane was just getting airborne as Monkey and Viper heading down an alley. With Mantis on his shoulder, Po leapt to the roof of the house in front of them. Just ahead of them, they spotted a wolf and a boar climbing up the wall of a lodge.

"Check out those two," Manits said.

"Looks like they could use some pain!" Po said, balling his fists.

He forced himself to run faster, hoping to cut them off. He jumped from the house and landed on the roof of the lodge, the tiles cracking under his weight. The boar and wolf hopped over the ledge, drawing their swords. They charged Po and Mantis, swinging their blades when they got close. Po ducked under the blades and hit the boar with a powerful uppercut. He was lifted from his feet and sent flying to the next building over, shattering the roof tiles and tumbling over the other side. The wolf attempted to flee, jumping to the same building the boar collided with.

Po jumped over the gap to the next building, hot on the wolf's heels. The wolf turned and swung his sword, forcing him to duck beneath the blade. Mantis jumped from Po's shoulder and landed on the wolf's neck, striking him in a nerve under his jaw. The wolf went stiff and fell off the side of the building, landing next to the boar in a pile of splintered wood. Po straightened himself, staring down at Mantis with a giant smile.

"Dude that was awesome!" he shouted.

"I know right!" Mantis shouted back. Before they could celebrate more, Viper's voice called out to them.

"Guys! Get over here!" she said.

"Crap!" Po exclaimed, "Come on, Mantis!"

Mantis jumped onto Po's shoulder, and they jumped to the building in front of them. Po ran to the opposite and dropped down into an alley. Up ahead, Viper and Monkey were fighting off a large group of bandits. It seemed the ones that escaped earlier had received reinforcements. Without a second thought, Po charged headfirst into the fray.

Arthur POV, two minutes later:

Arthur pressed himself against a fence, peeking around the corner. He watched the large animal from before slam a bear with his flabby stomach, sending him flying into a food stall. A few feet away, Arthur could see a monkey and a small, green snake easily dispatching a couple of leopards. A shadow suddenly passed overhead. Arthur crouched down and grabbed an arrow, slipping it onto the bowstring. He looked up, pulling the bowstring till it became taught. He scanned the sky for a few moments before he spotted a large bird flying over a large tower across the street.

At the top of the tower, a crocodile aimed a bow at the large animal below, who was distracted by a gorilla. He drew the bowstring, the bronze arrowhead visible against the dark wood of the roof. Arthur watched as the bird swoop down and strike the crocodile in the back of his head with one of its wings. He fell face first onto the ground below, his body landing in a twisted heap. Arthur could see from where he was that some of his limbs were twisted in ways they shouldn't. He doubted the crocodile would be getting up from that.

The bird landed next to the crocodile's body, jumping to the side when the gorilla the large animal was fighting was sent his way. Half of the remaining bandits turned and ran from the battle, moving further into the town. The bird flapped its wings and followed them from the sky. The large animal punched a boar in the face and took off after the fleeing bandits. The green snake followed closely behind while the monkey finished off a lion. Arthur stood up and was about to follow the others when he spotted something moving towards the monkey.

It was moving slowly across the ground, barely making a sound. Arthur watched the shape for a moment, confused at what he was seeing. Moments later, the shape rose from the ground, revealing itself to be a black panther. Pulling a dagger from its waist, it charged to the monkey, who'd just spotted him. Thinking he wouldn't stop the blade in time, Arthur pulled back his bowstring and sent an arrow into the panther's back. They stumbled from their charge and slammed into the ground, sliding to a stop at the monkey's paws. He stared at the panther with a confused look on his face.

When he slowly began to raise his head, Arthur quickly ducked around the corner. He stood motionless, hoping he wasn't spotted. He wasn't sure who those animals were, and while they clearly weren't the enemy, he didn't know how they'd react to him. He started to sweat when he heard footsteps slowly approaching. He hugged the wall and quietly slinked back down the alley. The footsteps were nearly upon him when a voice made them stop.

"Monkey!" the voice said, Arthur recognizing it as the large animal, "Come on! Tigress needs our help!"

"On my way!" Monkey replied, his rushing footsteps quickly fading away.

Arthur went back to the corner, peeking around it just in time to spot Monkey jumping off a building across the street. He could hear her screams from the other side. Slipping another arrow into the bowstring, he ran towards the screams.

Furious Five, same time:

Tigress glared at the lion, who was standing proud with a smug grin on his face. Beside him stood two wolves, each with a blade to the neck of a villager. The rest of the Furious Five and a few of the town guards had arrived, shocked by the scene around them.

Behind the lion, a large group of villagers were lined against a wall, several bandits aiming arrows at their backs. Three bears, each armed with an axe, stood behind the archers. Nearby, a family of pigs were on their knees, a gorilla standing behind them, a large sword firmly in his grasp. The sight made the Furious Five quite angry, knowing they couldn't strike without some of the villager's getting killed. Tigress was the most upset, never being one to handle failure well. The lion chuckled at them, taking a step forward.

"You should see yourselves," he taunted, "Do you know what you look like right now?"

"What?" Tigress growled, trying hard not to leap forward and strangle him.

"Like children sulking when their parents tell them it's time for bed," the lion replied, "Pathetic."

"Well, someone's tough," Po muttered.

"Say what you want," the lion said, "Regardless, I've won."

With a wave of his hand, two crocodiles dragged a struggling tibet antelope over to him. Forcing her down on her knees, the lion watched with amusement, his expression making the Furious Five nervous.

"What are you doing?" Tigress asked, giving him a look that could kill.

"Showing you why I'm really here," the lion replied.

Arthur, same time (trigger warning, attempted rape):

Nothing about this looked good. Arthur could see the animals from before frozen with indecision. It was obvious they couldn't make a move without an innocent life being taken. He studied the scene, trying to see what he could do. He could kill the lion, who was clearly the leader. That would leave the remaining bandits disorganized, which would give the others an opening.

Taking a breath, Arthur slowly raised his bow and pointed the arrow at the lion. He only pulled the bowstring halfway when the crocodiles appeared, dragging a female antelope with them. He slowly released the string, a sick feeling filling his gut. That feeling only became stronger when another pair of wolves escorted several more female animals from a shed and forced them next to her.

The look in the wolves' eyes made Arthur nervous. He'd seen that look plenty of times before, one usually plastered on a drunk asshole looking to get lucky. It was clear to him what was about to happen, but he wasn't sure what to do. If he killed the lion, the others would slaughter the women before anyone could move in. Gritting his teeth, he realized he had to take a chance. Raising the bow again, he returned his aim to the lion.

Before he could shoot, the lion waved his hand, and one of the crocodiles forced the antelope to the ground. She screamed and struggled to break free from his grasp. The two of them fought for a few moments before the other crocodile grabbed her shoulders and pinned her to the ground. The first croc, with his back now facing Arthur, stood over her. The lion gave an evil smile and turned to the other animals, speaking to them in what was clearly a taunting way, though he was too far away for him to hear the words.

Turning back to the croc, he gave him a nod and the crocodile reached down and ripped open the antelope's dress, exposing her breasts. He roughly squeezed them, making her scream in pain. Arthur tightly gripped the bow, his temper flaring. He'd done terrible things in his life, but there was one line he wouldn't cross. Watching the croc straighten and pull down his pants, Arthur aimed the arrow and released the string.

The arrow sped across the way and struck the crocodile in the center of his buttocks, blood spraying over the antelope's face. He stood motionless for a second before slowly looking down to his crotch. Arthur didn't need to be there to know what he saw. The second croc stared wide eyed at his friend, his face going pale. The first croc began to sway, then fell on top of the antelope. The other crocodile looked up and met Arthur's eyes.

Lowering the bow, Arthur looked over the scene, and it was then he realized everyone was looking his way. Slowly reaching behind him to grab another arrow, he took a couple steps back, putting some distance between them. Even from here, he could see the lion's face twist into a vicious snarl.

"YOU!" he shouted, pointing a claw at him.

Not wasting a second, Arthur slipped the arrow into the bow and pulled back the string. The lion quickly figured out what was happening and grabbed one of the wolves next to him just as Arthur released the arrow. The bronze tip entered the eye socket of the wolf and burst out of the back of his head. The villagers who they'd been guarding fled in panic. The lion tossed the wolf's lifeless body to the side and waved his men forward.

"KILL HIM!" he screamed.

The bandits started his way, completely forgetting about the villagers and the others. Arthur quickly grabbed another arrow, firing it at a boar. The arrow pierced his neck, sending him to the ground, choking on his blood. A second arrow went wide and hit the gorilla in the thigh. The impact slowed but did not stop his charge.

The bandits were nearly upon him when he turned and ran. Arthur struggled to grab another arrow, though he didn't think he would get a shot off anyway. All he could do was try and lose them in the alleys. A shadow passed above him, a quick glance revealed it to be the bird he had seen earlier. That gave him some relief, maybe he could hold out until the other animals reached him.

Furious Five, two minutes earlier:

The Furious Five watched in horror as two more wolves escorted several more women from a shed. They marched them over to the crocs and forced them to their knees beside the antelope. The way the wolves stared the women down made the Furious Five uncomfortable. The lion looked them over, that smug grin growing wider. He quickly glanced over the wolves before stopping at the crocs. He gave them the same wave of his hand, and the croc on the antelope's right grabbed her arms and shoved her to the ground.

She screamed and struggled to break free. They struggled for a few seconds before the other croc grabbed her shoulders and pinned her down. The first croc released her arms and stood over her. The lion smiled and turned to the Furious Five.

"These women will fetch a good price," he said, "Or maybe I should keep them. My men could always use a good time. Wong, give 'em a taste."

Wong smiled and ripped open the antelope's dress, a roughly grabbed her breasts, make her scream. Most of the Furious Five turned away, unable. Tigress growled, resisting the urge to charge. Wong released his hold and unbuckled his belt. He pulled down his pants and slipped his thumbs in the waistband of his undergarment. Before he could remove them, a cloud of blood burst from his crotch, covering the antelope's face. When the cloud disappeared, the tip of an arrow was revealed.

Wong slowly looked down, staring at the arrow. The lion stared at him, shocked at what he was seeing. And so was everyone else. Wong began to sway before falling down on top of the antelope. She wiggled her body, attempting to free herself. The heads of everyone present turned to where the arrow came from.

Standing near the end of an alley was a strange creature. They were clad in an unusual outfit, nothing that matched the villagers or the bandits. Clutched in the right hand was a longbow, the same king used by the bandits. They slowly reached back for another arrow when they noticed everyone was staring. A deep growl cut the silence. The lion raised his finger at the figure, a snarl present on his face.

"YOU!" he shouted.

The figure slipped an arrow in the bow and sent it toward the lion. He grabbed one of the wolves next to him and used his face to catch the arrow, their hostages fleeing in terror. Tossing his body aside, he let out another loud growl.

"KILL HIM!" he screamed in rage.

Completely forgetting the villagers and the Furious Five, the lion and his bandits charged towards the figure. They fired another arrow, striking a boar in the neck. A third arrow hit the gorilla in the thigh, the impact slowly his gait. The bandits were nearly upon the figure when they turned and ran down the alley.

"Crane!" Tigress shouted, snaping everyone for their stupor, "Follow them!"

With a flap of his wings, Crane lifted himself into the air and followed the bandits. Monkey stared down the alley where the figure fled, making the others concerned. Tigress was about to ask him what was wrong when he suddenly leaped onto the side of the building and ran towards the alley.

"Monkey!" Viper called out to him, but he ignored her and kept running.

"Tigress?" Po said, a questioning look on his face.

"Go," she replied, "I'll catch up."

She joined the guards in helping the villagers while the others chased after Monkey. None of them knew why he took off like that. With him being the most reserved of the Furious Five, running off like this was out of character. Hopefully, they could catch up before he got himself killed.

Arthur, one minute later:

The gorilla slammed into his back with the force of a train. The impact forced the wind from his lungs, leaving him gasping for breath. The gorilla grabbed the collar of his shirt, pulling the fabric tight against his neck. Arthur slammed his elbow into his nose, making him release his shirt. He grabbed his Bowie Knife and stabbed the gorilla's other arm. He screamed in pain, the distraction allowing Arthur to escape. He drove his boot into his face, knocking him out. Arthur crawled towards his bow.

The bird from before had landed nearby and was fighting a group of bandits. Though he was holding his own, Arthur could see he was starting to tire. Picking up the bow, he readied an arrow and fired at the closest bandit, the arrow piercing his skull. His body nudged the lion as it fell. He spun around, his eyes locking on him. Arthur reached behind, a chill flowing through him when he realized he was out of arrows. Drawing his sword, the lion roared and sprinted to him.

Arthur's eyes widened and he moved the bow to block the lion's blade. The metal easily carved the bow in half, but it slowed the blade down just enough for him dodge it. Pulling his knife from the gorilla's arm, Arthur jumped back a few feet and into a fighting stance. The lion raised his sword again, glaring at him. By now, the monkey from earlier had arrived, followed shortly afterward by the large bear thing and the snake. They joined the bird in fighting off the remaining bandits, leaving Arthur and the lion to themselves.

The lion roared and charged him a second time, his blade raised high. Arthur met his charged, ducking under the sword and thrust his knife toward the lion's chest. Though he was slow with the sword, his reflexes were quick, and he grabbed Arthur's wrist before the knife could reach him. With a swing of his arm, he tossed Arthur aside as if he were nothing.

Pain exploded through his body as he rolled across the ground. Arthur groaned and struggled to his feet. The lion didn't give him the chance. He grabbed Arthur's jacket and lifted him up before slamming him back down. Arthur wheezed from impact, pain filling his chest. The lion raised him back up, preparing to slam him down again. Arthur fought through the pain and drove his boot into the lion's thigh. He stumbled back, his claws tearing Arthur's jacket. Rolling onto his back, Arthur watched the lion plunge his sword toward his chest. Another boot to his thigh threw off his aim, and the blade dug itself into the dirt. Arthur delivered a punch to the lion's face, who responded with one of his own. The impact had him seeing stars. He could certainly punch harder than Micah.

Wrapping a hand around his throat, the lion lifted him to his feet. He drew back his arm, ready to slice him in two. Arthur headbutted him, breaking his nose. The lion cried out and shoved him aside, giving a quite swipe with his sword. The blade cut into Arthur's side, a burn flowing across his skin. He fell to the ground, gripping the cut with his hand. It wasn't that deep, but it hurt like hell. The lion hissed at him, squeezing the handle of his sword. Arthur couldn't go much longer; the lion was too strong. With a final roar, the lion ran at him, ready to strike him down. Seeing he had no other choice, Arthur drew his Cattleman and fired, putting five rounds in the lion's chest.

The reports from his revolver echoed throughout the village, stunning everyone into silence. The animals from before stared his way, their eyes wide with fear. The village guards that joined them froze in their tracks. The lion stumbled but remained on his feet, staring blankly at Arthur. Dropping his sword on the ground, he looked down as he ripped open his cloak, revealing a white undershirt that was quickly turning red. The lion then slowly looked up at Arthur.

"How'd you do that?" he asked.

His eyes rolled in their sockets, and he fell backwards to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Arthur clutched his side and went to stand when a spear was pointed at his neck. He followed the shaft to one of the rhinos he saw when he first arrived.

"Drop it," he commanded.

Arthur set his revolver on the ground next to him and raised his hands. The rhino motioned with his spear, telling him to stand. Slowly, Arthur stood up, keeping his hands visible. The rhino took a step back but kept his spear pointed at his neck. Behind him, he heard something hit the ground. Turning his head, he saw the tiger, accompanied by two more rhinos. The two of them helped the others secure the bandits while the tiger approached him, eyeing him up and down. Stopping in front of him, she stared him in the face, her intense gaze making Arthur nervous.

"I haven't seen your kind before," she said, "Who are you?"

"Arthur Morgan," Arthur replied.

The tiger then looked down at his outfit, her eyes widening slightly when she noticed his wound. She turned to the others and waved her hand, the green snake quickly making their way over. Arthur took a step back. He hated snakes and wasn't keen on having one so close. The tiger noticed and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Relax," she said, "Viper will not harm you."

Arthur relaxed, watching the snake slither to him. Now that they were close, he could see the snake was also female. She extended her tail and tapped Arthur's hand, who moved it from his wound. She rose from the ground and inspected the injury, gently moving the fabric of his jacket. While she did this, the tiger spoke again.

"So, where did you come from?" she asked.

"New Hanover," Arthur replied.

"I've never heard of this place," the tiger said, eyeing him suspiciously.

Arthur thought for a moment, wondering how he could explain where he came from without sounding crazy. After a few moments, he took a deep breath and opened his mouth to respond. Before he could, he was interrupted by Yao's voice.

"Arthur!" he said.

Arthur turned and saw both him and Leng running to him. They both stopped when they saw the tiger, quickly bowing in her presence.

"Master Tigress," Leng said.

"You know this man?" Tigress asked.

"Yes," Leng replied, "Me and Yao picked him up near the mountains."

"The mountains?" Tigress questioned, looking back at Arthur, "What were you doing in the mountains."

"I'm not sure, myself," Arthur replied, "That's where he sent me."

"Who?" Tigress asked.

"Oogway," Arthur replied.

Tigress stiffened upon hearing, as well as Viper. Both shared a glance, then returned their eyes to him. The looks on their faces made Arthur wish he just made something up.

"Oogway?" Tigress asked.

"Yes," Arthur replied, feeling sweat roll down his face.

"How do you know Oogway?" Tigress asked, her tone serious.

"I was, uh," Arthur began, "I was dying, and uh, Oogway, he saved me. Then he sent me here."

Tigress nodded and stepped away, her hands behind her back. She stood silently for a moment before looking at Leng and Yao.

"Did mention this when you found him," she asked.

"Not when we found him," Leng replied, "He mentioned it when the bandits attacked."

"He said he made a promise," Yao chimed in.

Tigress huffed and turned back to Arthur. She looked between him and the revolver lying on the ground. She waved the monkey over, who picked it up and secured it to his belt. The other animals had now joined, each one staring at Arthur.

"Tigress?" the monkey asked.

"We'll bring him to Shifu," she said, "He needs to know about this."

She turned on heels and went up to the rhino guard.

"Do you still require assistance?" she asked.

"No. My men will take over from here," he replied. Tigress nodded and returned to Arthur.

"You will accompany us to Jade Palace," she said. Arthur looked at and Yao and Leng, who both gave him a reassuring look. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves.

"Okay," he said.

"Follow us," Tigress said, turning around and heading for the end of town.

Arthur glanced at Leng and Yao, who both gave him a nervous look. Tigress cleared her throat, getting his attention. She motioned with her head for him to follow. Steeling his nerves, Arthur followed behind her, the other animals walking beside him. Aside from the tiger, they didn't seem hostile, glancing at him with curiosity rather than suspicion. That did little to calm him, however. The slow walk through town, surrounded by these animals, made him feel like a condemned prisoner. His only hope was that this Jade Palance didn't have a noose waiting for him.

Author' Note: Finally! After eight months this chapter is finally done. I originally set the deadline for the 31st, but I finished the editing quicker than anticipated. If they're still mistakes present, please let me know so i can correct them. Again, I apologize for the long wait, the move overseas made me fall behind on all my stories, and I'm still playing catch up. Hopefully, the next chapter won't take as long. Anyway, please enjoy chapter 2. Constructive criticism welcome.