Author's Note: Hi again! Weren't expecting another one so soon, huh? Well... Neither was I. I thought I was going to take longer on this but I just had a random burst of creative energy and... here we are. As for this chapter, we are back with the five again and I've got something that might even surprise a bit of you. It's short, yes, but juicy nonetheless. Anyways, on with the show!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP! (I do wish we have more scenes like the one near the end here)

Enjoy.

Legends Are Never Forgotten

The soft crackles and snaps of meagre flames echo throughout the late Zhanshi clan's village as Crane lights one final torch in his talons, their auburn glow irradiating the village's perimeter in some vain attempt to expel its macabre aura. Placing this torch on the rocky wall, the avian master flies back towards his feline companion, a grimace crawling on his face as the carpet of skeletons littering the village square reveals itself under the torches' light. Safe to say that coming back here a second time certainly didn't make things any easier to stomach. He wonders how Tigress is able to manage so well. Then again, that might just be an assumption.

His yellow irises shift over to his tiger sister pushing past the mementos of death that plague the village, her gait remaining strong and true. Though she does seem to be handling herself, the bird knows better than to take this at face value. For all he knows, an unwavering battle could be taking place in her mind. He lands alongside her, trying his best to avert his eyes from the horrors embedded into this long-forgotten relic of time. "That should make things easier." Tigress nods in agreement as the two warriors head deeper within the village.

They soon reach the edge of the village, crossing by buildings that are far more battered and worn in comparison to others. In essence, they match the state of their late owners, chilling Crane to the bone. This could've been the valley if they hadn't stopped Nuba, "This place still gives me the creeps." He mutters to himself, trying his best to look anywhere else but the devastated buildings on the sides of the road.

He doesn't notice Tigress staring at her mother's remains, her heart trying its best to hold itself together. "We won't stay too long." She assures him almost robotically. After a few more moments, the tiger master finally manages to pry her eyes away from the harrowing sight of her mother and looks to the road ahead. Amber irises narrow to inspect their point of interest, "There." She nudges her avian brother as she points to the carcass of the chieftain's hut, "Just at the end of the road."

Both warriors quicken their pace slightly as they head to the desolate hut, slowing their pace as they get to its gangly front doors. Allowing Tigress to go first, Crane takes cautious steps within the broken-down hallway, taking in every morbid detail that his eyes can find. What irks him is the scorch marks littered on the hut's wooden boards. Did Nuba do this with chi? Is it actually possible to burn someone with it? He just barely stops himself from stepping on the skeletal remains lying in the hallway, too caught up in his paranoid thoughts. Then again, even with the perimeter torches lit, everything in the village is still coated in shadows. As if it surrounds everything in here. Then again, these guys were pretty secretive. Now, to find out why. He takes his eyes off the corpse curled up in the hallway and pursues forward, joining Tigress in the chief's throne room.

"Oh Gods." The bird's shocked whisper melds with the whistling air that pierces into the desolate throne room. Walls completely obliterated, roof non-existent, robes and tapestries tattered; And he thought Shen was psychotic. Yet none of this overshadows the sight of the chieftain's dismantled remnants haphazardly lying on the throne.

"Crane!" Tigress snaps the bird out of his shocked stupor, motioning over to a space just behind the throne. He heads over to the feline, making sure not to step in any of the chief's remains as he kneels on the floor alongside her, two marble slabs lying right before them. Both masters study the inscriptions on the stone for nearly a minute, pondering over just what each symbol or drawing could mean. Silence overtakes them as they continue to stare at the tablets. At the black dragon towering over the turtle. At the tigers' paws huddled over a strange symbol.

After several more moments of thoughtful silence, Crane's countenance turns perplexed. "That… That can't be right…" His mumbling catches the tiger master's attention, "I mean, that is Oogway. Without a doubt… But… If it is… And that dragon is… No, it just doesn't make sense."

Amber orbs turn back towards the tablets, gazing intently at the shadowy dragon sneering down at its enemy. No, enemies. Several tigers stand huddled around Oogway, readying their spears and swords to fight this monster. She knows exactly what Crane is suggesting, only confirming her suspicions from earlier. "There isn't a single story that I can think of that matches this… Aside from one…" Yellow irises gaze back at the tiger, already knowing her answer, "Ke-Pa."

"But that story doesn't mention anything about an army of tigers. Oogway fought Ke-Pa on his own and banished him to the darkest corners of the spirit realm, that's how it's always been told." Both warriors shift their focus back to the tapestries before them, bewildered by their implications.

"Perhaps… Oogway didn't tell us everything."

Crane's eyes practically pop out of their sockets at Tigress' suggestion, "Are you saying he lied to us? Why? Why would he take all of the credit for this?"

"I don't know, Crane… There are many things about Oogway that we don't know about. Remember Kai?" A sceptic glint finds its way into the tiger master's eyes as they dart between the two tablets.

"Hmph. How could I forget?" He mutters to himself before responding, "But with him things were different. Kai had practically erased himself from history by betraying Oogway. The Zhanshi clan though, they were helping him. Last I checked, Oogway isn't one to boast about his victories. Why would this be any different?" Tigress sighs in defeat. He's right, Oogway would never be so arrogant. "Plus, I doubt that the Zhanshi clan made this up because if they did… Well, wouldn't they be a bit more proud? They aided Oogway in taking down the demon king and that only calls for a few tablets?"

None of this adds up. Neither Oogway nor the clan has any reason to lie about something like this. No other kung fu legend involving Oogway matches this as well as the demon king, Ke-Pa. Yet everything that they know so far is pointing in completely different directions. Amber irises drift towards the symbol on the second tablet. Seven vertical and horizontal lines cross each other, a flame sitting in the middle of it. "What about the second tablet? What do you think it means?"

Crane looks over to the tablet once more, quickly scanning it before taking a quick glance at the throne. "Other than the fact that the symbol matches the one on the throne, I've got nothing." Tigress deflates at her comrade's answer.

"Perhaps we're missing something." She whispers to herself, her right paw held to her chin as a fiery determination fills her eyes. She takes the two tablets in her paws, "I'll take these to Shifu. Maybe he'll be able to make sense of it."

"I hope so." Her avian brother murmurs as his eyes shift around the room, feeling a horrid chill quake up his spine, "Is it getting cold in here or is just me?" He taps one of his talons on the floor with an anxiousness that only brings a disbelieving smile out of Tigress.

Granted, it's good to be fearful sometimes. Helps one to stay alert. But she would be lying if she said Crane's frightened tendencies weren't amusing. Considering the environment they're in, it's understandable too, "I think it's about time we head back." Not needing to be told twice, the bird master follows his tiger sister as they head out of the village, Tigress' determination burning within her eyes. She'll find out whatever secret her clan was hiding, no matter what.

Meanwhile, the sun begins to set on the Jade Palace, allowing the stars to mingle within the sky. Alongside the setting sun and rising moon, they act as silent guardians. They watch over the citizens below, providing them with a soothing light as they assure them a safe journey home. However, whilst the rest of the valley starts to close up shop or return to their homes, one particular citizen does neither.

Deeper within the palace grounds lies a garden, its grass a vibrant green and its flowers always in bloom. As if the very essence of life itself blesses the soil underneath, bringing about a beauty that very few get to experience. What many would consider a juxtaposition of the garden's purpose. Statues line the sides of the garden in two parallel lines that lead up the garden's length. Each stone statue is carved in the likeness of a revered kung fu master, a message commemorating their feats and accolades etched into the bottom of this lifeless figurines. At the very end of the garden, a single grand statue of grandmaster Oogway stands in its centre, recommissioned after Kai's destructive terror. For many, this place would be a place of grievance. Mourning the loss of heroes that had given their lives for their home.

Yet Oogway, as per usual, thought differently. When he had first erected this place, it was to honour the life of these kung fu legends. It was to make sure that whenever anyone would think of them, it would be through joy, not anguish. That's why the garden has been so well tended, to commemorate the peace that these great warriors have helped to maintain. Even after Oogway had passed, Shifu had made sure to continue his master's will.

In spite of this however, the soft sniffles and choked cries of grievance can be heard. The stars taking shape within the sky watch on in pity at the source of this grief, master Viper coiled in front of the garden's most recent statue. A statue of the great master Viper, tragically killed alongside his wife by the evil Nuba. She quietly weeps as her eyes take in the statue of her father. Its likeness is almost uncanny, like staring at a larger version of the real person. His eyebrows, his fangs, his warm smile; Everything is so lifelike. As if maybe, if she wished hard enough, he would still be here.

At this thought, Viper's sobbing only intensifies. She knew that this would happen eventually. That some day she would need to say goodbye to her dear father, but out of all the ways it could have happened, it had to be by her paws. Maybe if she had been there… No. There's no point thinking that way. No point in believing in what ifs. Perhaps this truly is what they were both destined for. Even so, the pain in Viper's heart is simply too much to keep inside. In spite of mastering inner peace, sometimes it is simply too much to bear. "Baba, I don't know if you can hear me. But I hope you're okay up there. You deserved much more, but…" A sad smile finds its way onto her lips, "Knowing you, you'd probably get yourself killed in some other battle if it weren't for this."

"Ain't that the truth?" A solemn voice catches the serpent's attention, making her wipe her teary eyes with her tail to get a better look at them. Making his way down the garden path is none other than her langur brother, Monkey. He wears a sombre smile on his face, blue eyes sifting between each of the different masters immortalised within the luscious garden as he approaches his snake sister. "Heroes rarely ever get an ending that they deserve. Whether they sacrificed their lives to protect their home or it was the one battle that they couldn't pull through. To be honest, I can't think of many that actually lived a peaceful life before they passed. Well, except for Oogway." As Monkey sits next to Viper, a solemn expression melts his face, thinking deep down how unfair it all is.

Viper mimics his expression in kind as she looks down to the ground. It truly isn't fair. That these great masters have gone through so much hardship and yet they still couldn't have peace. Their only choice was to fight until their last breath. At least her dad was sleeping peacefully next to mum when he died. A feeble consolation, but one that brings some measure of peace, no doubt. Sky blue eyes shift back to the statue in front of them, finding their smile as the elder serpent's remains eternal. It is always in a warrior's blood to give it their all, to fight the good fight until the very end. Most of the masters preserved in this garden had devoted their whole life to China's protection. To pass on in such a way would have to be their greatest honour. "I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want it any other way."

Sharing her smile, Monkey looks up to the late great master Viper, honoured to have met him and befriend his daughter. It's no wonder many had died this way, after all, they had always put themselves in the line of fire. If he has to be perfectly honest, he doesn't really see himself settling down or living a married life. Then again, the future always remains uncertain. But if things did go this way, if his last few moments were given in service to his home, his family, then he could make peace with that. At this thought, however, his smile gives way to a frown once more. "Doesn't make it any easier for the people they leave behind." He can practically hear Viper's lips begin to tremble at this, her heart knowing this truth all too well.

Two pairs of blue gaze into each other for a brief moment, sharing a grief that both know to a harrowing degree. Bound not by blood yet still family. Viper turns her head back towards her father's statue, thinking back on her own life and how everything had started so well. Unlike Tigress' or Shifu's… or Monkey's. She thinks about how much he has had to endure. How he had to go through this grief at such a young age. How he had experienced such horrible guilt when he had found out about his brother. Tears run down her cheeks as she whispers, "It's not fair… For any of us…"

His eyes sink deeper into despondence as he continues looking on at his serpent sister, wanting deep down to find some way to diffuse their mournful thoughts. For once however, he can't think of a joke. "Yeah…" This pitiful whisper is all he can manage. He lays his paw down delicately on her coiled body as he gazes upon the statue of her father once more, a few tears escaping his eyes as he thinks about his poor brother. Sometimes, it is best to simply let these feelings pour out.

Poor Monkey and Viper, more specifically Monkey. He has been through a lot of hardship and frankly, even after gaining inner peace, I doubt he would be completely over what happened to his brother. Heck, no one would be. As for the life of a warrior being unfair, I kind of realised that this is sort of something that never really gets addressed in the franchise and so, when writing this chapter, I thought it would be interesting to explore. Oh and as for the reveal in the first half... Well... You will see what that leads to real soon. Just want to address right now, even though he is from legends of awesomeness, does not mean that this follows that canon. This is strictly following the movies only. I've just always thought that a lot of concepts in that show have been wasted, so, how about using them in a better way? Anyways, hope you've enjoyed and until next time :)