Author's Note: I'm back again! Yep, managed to get this done so soon after the last. Crazy stuff happens, new revelations are made and things start to get real interesting. I'm really happy with how this chapter has gone, and I'm certain that you guys will love it too. One thing though, it does get pretty intense near the end. You'll see what I mean pretty soon. Anyways, lets get on with it.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!
Enjoy.
The Nightmare Begins
It doesn't take long for masters Shifu, Viper and Mantis to reach the hospital's double doors, and it takes even less time for a mournful veil to darken their once determined faces. Anguish leaks from the building's outer walls, reducing the once calming blue and green paint to a putrid mould. Agony shatters the very windows through its patients' wailing cries and their unanswered pleas for help.
Sky blue eyes glisten with unshed tears, the serpent master managing to feel the pain of all of those innocent people bleed through their hopeless voices. Dread pierces its way into Mantis' bones, making him dance with a slight yet unmistakable shiver. In spite of this foreboding welcome, their grandmaster's resolve doesn't fade. In spite of his sensitive ears being deafened by these horrific shrieks, he marches forward. His unyielding silence commands his students to follow as they enter into the dreaded place.
Shifu's heart sinks.
Nurses sprint from ward to ward, bundles of food and water clambered into their arms as they frantically try to aid the sick. Some trip and crash to the ground, hyperventilating as they spill everything onto the floor. Others abscond their mask of hope and accepting that there simply is none. How on earth can they possibly keep this mask on when their patients' fate trudges through their doorstep?
"Mama!"
A pale pig is carried through the hallway on a stretcher by two bison, a young piglet following after her. Viper gasps as the bison pass right by them, bringing a sight that will remain carved in their minds forever. The pig's once pink skin has rotted away, now a faded cream flesh that is encased in a sticky layer of irremovable sweat. Her once plump frame has shrunken, allowing bones and empty veins to pop through as if she were a crudely made marionette. Dehydration leaves her lips cracked and torn, dead skin peeling itself off in search for water in an endless desert.
Yet none of her features punches a hole in their stomach more than her eyes. Pupils and irises vanished. Wells of tears completely dried up. Rivers and clouds of crimson where white should be. Among all of this however, there is still an overwhelming familiarity within these garish orbs. An emotion that these warriors have seen far too many times.
Fear.
In spite of them staring into nothing, it still seems as though they are petrified, paralysed in an instinct so deeply ingrained that it cannot be forgotten. An instinct that had driven her to madness, that driven her to death.
As the bison brush past the masters without acknowledging them in the slightest, the three warriors ignore the horrendous rotting stench invading their nostrils and gaze at the sobbing infant running after them, "Mama! Wait! Don't go!" Mantis hears one of the bison let out a solemn sigh to himself, clearly feeling horrible that he has to do this to the poor kid. Once the two men round the corner, heading in the direction of the morgue, the piglet gives up his chase, crumpling into foetal position as he chokes on his grief. Horror fills Shifu's features as he notices the piglet's denial slowly fading away from his tearful eyes, a harrowing, heat-breaking acceptance taking its place.
Without a moment's hesitation, Viper rushes to the bawling piglet, coiling him up in a gentle embrace as she tries to comfort him. She doesn't say a word, knowing deep down that nothing can extinguish the pain flaring in his innocent heart. Shifu and Mantis can do little but watch on, ashamed that they weren't here to stop this tragedy from ever happening in the first place. They notice their serpent comrade share this guilt as tears cascade down her cheek.
Before they can fester in this madness for any longer, a rabbit adorned in light blue robes and a cobra sporting a golden phoenix tattoo descend down the steps at the end of the hall. They appear haggard and beyond exhausted, with deep circles dug around their eyes and the rabbit's fur twisted in painful knots. Within moments of their arrival, the cobra recognises Shifu immediately with the elder master just about able to force a light smile at the sight of an old friend. "Master Shifu!" Jiankang bellows out before slithering to the red panda, with Yisheng running after him, "Thank goodness you and your students have arrived! It has been utter chaos!" The grandmaster lays a calming paw on Jiankang's side, wearing an assured, determined face alongside Mantis who hops onto his shoulder.
"We know," Shifu's gruff voice rumbles with a newfound resolve as he looks to the wards filled with petrified screams, "now tell us what we can do to help."
As they get to work in assisting the hospital staff; Po, Tigress and Monkey survey the barren streets of the city square, peering into the many blackened alleys that pass them, with Crane flying overhead, perusing the rooftops for anyone particularly suspicious. Apart from a few food vendors, it seems like the entire city's population has hidden from this unknown threat, taking refuge in their homes. A wise choice that takes the worry of them being harmed off the warriors' shoulders.
It doesn't, however, take away the ominous chill in the air, amplifying the icy breath of the winter breeze. For once in the forbidden city's entire history, no footprints litter the snow rolled out onto the ground. None but the warriors' own. To think that a single person has rendered China's capital to a frozen wasteland sends harrowing thoughts to Crane's head, but he steels himself regardless, his yellow irises acting as searchlights over the winding paths and alleys that make up this snow-capped labyrinth.
Then again, who is to say there is only one culprit? What if there is a group? Or worse, an army. Amber eyes melt icicles forming at the edges of rooftops, darting to every corner of this once great place as the tiger master's mind runs wild with questions. If they are only targeting guards now, then what was the purpose of harming civilians first if not to break down the emperor's defences? Why escalate this to an attack on the entire city? Why wouldn't they leave the guards to be taken to the hospital like these civilians? Something isn't adding up. Whatever plan they have, simply makes no sense. Whilst she continues pondering these questions, Po and Monkey follow along behind her, anxious yet ready for this monster to be revealed.
"You seen anything yet?" A quick whisper shoots out of Monkey, trying his best to not shiver at the overbearing cold. He squints his eyes at a particularly large gap between two buildings, certain that he saw something move, only for the shadows within to laugh at his mistake.
Jade irises scan the windows of a towering structure, plain and absent of any fancy decoration or embellishments. Nothing. Nothing but the starstruck eyes of some of its less noble residents, hoping to sneak a peek at the legendary dragon warrior. In response to this fanfare, he waves with his classic grin on his face only for a shockwave of pain to pang into his head again, forcing him to clutch at it with his paw. He glances at his langur friend for a moment, thankful that he hasn't noticed, but unaware of his tiger's concerned gaze. Her sensitive ears had picked up on the slight puff of air that had escaped his nostrils. Unfortunately, she can't focus on her panda's wellbeing for too long. They have a job to do.
After waiting for a few moments for this pain to pass, Po finally responds, "Nah, got nothing." He switches his attention over to his avian comrade high up in the air, "What about you, Crane? Got anything?" To his dismay, the flying master shakes his head, leaving the panda just a slight bit more worried than before. If this madman is going to attack today, then when? After all, there is no-one in the streets but them. Could it be possible that maybe this attacker wanted them here, that they are the real targets? No, that'd be ridiculous. Holding an entire city hostage just to get them here? It's crazy… but not impossible.
Unbeknownst to the four masters, two dark blue eyes monitor them from a cluster of mid-sized buildings, ecstatic to see that his plan has worked yet frustrated that they had come at such an inopportune moment. He had hoped to ambush a lone pedestrian or perhaps another squadron of guards patrolling the area, but doing so now will certainly result in his capture. Though the wolf commander may be skilled, he knows well enough that no member of the furious five can be trifled with, and fighting the dragon warrior, alone, with his allies close by is a recipe for disaster. He must retreat to the base and put his plan into action. With his demon mask concealing his face, Zhongcheng prepares to slink away from their proximity until he notices the dragon warrior stopping in his tracks. A puzzled expression crosses the wolf's masked face until the panda turns his head over his shoulder, eyes pointed directly at him.
A quiet voice whispers in the back of Po's head, practically outlining the shadowy centre of the crowded buildings. Though he can't see whatever is supposed to be there, he keeps his eyes focused on that spot, trusting the word of the universe even if it is an incomprehensible whisper. He narrows his eyes, trying his absolute hardest to see what it could be, but deep down he already knows that it can't be anyone else but the very person they've been searching for. Seeing no movement, he stays completely still, certain that the very second he moves towards them, they will escape his grasp.
Both Tigress and Monkey notice the panda master's strange behaviour, bringing a befuddled expression to their features. However, as the tiger master's eyes follow his, a surge of realisation hits her. Just before her langur comrade can ask him what is going on, she rushes over to Po and inquires herself. "What do you see?"
He utters with a serious, focused voice that is quite foreign to him, "Nothing… yet." At this response, Tigress goes down on all fours and readies herself to pounce, with Monkey standing by them on full alert. Within a few moments, Crane takes a quick glance at his comrades, understanding what is going on immediately and flying closer to get a better look at those scrappy structures.
Zhongcheng's fur stands on end, panicking as he is forced to remain rigid in the hopes that they'll think their panda friend is mistaken. How? How could he possibly know I'm here? Still finding himself awe-stricken by the dragon warrior's… inconceivable ability to detect someone he can't even see; it takes the wolf a second to notice the avian master soaring towards him, narrowing his options down to just one.
Run.
As the four masters look on, a faint glimmer of metal catching sunlight shines from the shadowy veil in-between, making their eyes go wide. Yet somehow, the whispering voice tells Po where it will go, "Crane! Watch out!" At this yell, the avian master readies himself as he deflects the throwing dagger shooting towards him with ease.
After this, they notice something sprint off in the dark. "After them!" Tigress bellows, the three masters on the ground heading towards the buildings whilst Crane flies around to the back.
Zhongcheng sprints forward on all fours, hoping to leap over to one of the rooftops opposite this haphazard cluster. As he gets closer and closer to the end of this cluster's length, he looks behind to see three masters hot on his tail. But where's the bird? Ignoring this, he continues forward, the shadows getting dimmer with each step. As he reaches the end, he leaps out to the rooftop of a stout building below only to feel said missing bird smash into him talons-first, sending both of them careening into one of the windows of a fanciful tower.
Crash!
They roll along the floor to the gasps of several immaculately dressed lords and ladies, breaking tables and chairs alike before finally stopping in the middle of the room. They both get up from this immediately and start trading blows, prompting these citizens to rush out the room. Before they can all get out however, Zhongcheng puts one of Crane's wings in a hold and kicks at one of the few tables remaining in the room, smacking a female goose to the floor in the hopes of using her as a hostage. Crane kicks the wolf's side with his talon, making him release his wing, and follows through with several talon swipes forcing him to block as he is pushed back, allowing the goose to go free. At the bird's final talon swipe, however, Zhongcheng grabs his foot and kicks his other leg out from under him before grabbing a fist full of broken glass from the floor. As the avian master steadies himself up and rushes forward again, the wolf chucks the glass at his face, forcing him to block with his wing. At this opening, Zhongcheng quickly channels his chi into his paw, making it glow a deep blue, and delivers a brutal palm strike to Crane's chest.
Boom!
As Crane is thrown towards the broken window, Monkey climbs in before being chucked out by the avian's flailing body. Seeing this, Tigress climbs in after them, hauling Po up with her. Before they can get to him however, they see the masked wolf jump out the window at the opposite end of the room. Just as Tigress goes to chase him down, Po stops her with a paw on her shoulder. She looks to him with a quizzical expression until he asks her with a cheeky smile, "Dumpling boulder?" At this she smiles back.
Zhongcheng lands on a set of low-rise buildings, hopping between their curved rooves with as much speed as he can muster. For a moment he thinks he may have beaten them until, "Yahoooo!" He turns his head back immediately to see a black and white ball hurtling at him, the air behind it catching on fire. Without even a second to dodge, the wolf is engulfed by the high-speed panda as they both hit the roof's surface.
Bam!
Po rolls along the rooftops with the commander in his grasp until his legs are in the perfect place for him to perform a double kick on his chest plate. Zhongcheng is sent flying face-first into the curved part of the next building's roof, breaking the shingles into pieces and leaving a giant crack in the middle of his mask. Slightly dazed, the commander only just manages to block a powerful jump kick from the panda. He responds with a double lift kick which Po blocks, leaving him open to the wolf's elbow strike. As he takes the hit however, he follows through with the momentum and spins around to throw a punch which the wolf catches in his paw. Right as he does this however, the dragon warrior surprises him with a headbutt straight to his masked face only for the wolf to surprise him by grabbing the back of his head with his other paw and chucking him to the floor behind him. His opponent grounded, Zhongcheng readies his fist only for the dragon warrior to flash him a devious smile before rolling over to the side. Realising what is about to happen, the wolf turns around and holds his arms in front of him as Tigress soars through the air, her leg extended outward.
Slam!
Her powerful kick embeds him into the roof's shingles, but before she can perform a follow up attack, he rolls backwards and readies himself in his stance. Without a moment in-between, the two masters strike at the commander, trading blows with each other for a lengthy amount of time. Surprisingly enough, Zhongcheng manages to keep up with China's power couple, deflecting and blocking nearly all of their attacks, though it is far from easy. Tigress just manages to catch him off-guard with a leg sweep, making him fall to his knees. Unfortunately, the wolf uses it to his advantage and punches Po right in the tenders. "Ouch." He squeaks out as the masked commander dodges a palm strike from the tiger master and kicks the panda off to the side of the roof.
Tigress pushes forward in her offensive by throwing out a three-punch combo, all three hits connecting with the wolf's chest plate. They trade blows as Po winces in the corner, still in pain. As the two dodge and block each other's attacks, the tiger master throws out a roundhouse kick which Zhongcheng dodges. Midway through this kick, he roughly grabs her tail with his paw, putting her off balance. If this isn't enough, he coils the middle of her tail around his free paw and yanks back on it, making her scream out at the intense pain. Before he can do anymore damage, she smacks him in the face with the back of her head, forcing him to let go and stumble back. With both combatants staring down the other fiercely, they both rear their fists back and channel chi into them before making contact with each other's' face.
Boom!
A massive shockwave of blue and gold shatters the shingles on the rooftop into microscopic dust, throwing both combatants backwards. Tigress just about lands on all fours, her claws sinking into the shingles farther down and making an ear-grating squeal as she slows down her momentum. Meanwhile, Zhongcheng is thrown towards another rooftop but, unlike the tiger master, follows through on this momentum and sprints forward. With a sharp exhale, Tigress runs over to Po and helps him up, hoping they can catch up with the wolf again, "C'mon, Po."
"Yeah, gotcha." He squeaks out again, waddling for a brief moment before willing himself to run through the pain. Unbeknownst to them, a cloaked figure with ruby eyes watches from afar, sights set on the concealed wolf trying so desperately to escape. They feel an air of familiarity with him, yet they can't put their finger on why. Without a moment to lose, the figure leaps to another rooftop, keeping their eyes set on the carnage happening before them.
Taking a left turn across the city's rooves, Zhongcheng takes a quick glance behind him, seeing the panda and tiger duo trying desperately to catch up, unaware of Crane shooting directly towards him at a blinding speed with Monkey holding onto his legs. As they are just about to go over him, the avian master nods to his comrade, who promptly lets go of his leg and lands on top of the wolf's shoulders.
Without giving him a moment to realise what is going on, Monkey starts wailing on his head with his fists before grabbing his head and yanking it to the left. This forces them to go down a set of outer metallic stairs, leading them to ground level once more. They zoom across the snowy street with Zhongcheng desperately trying to get this Monkey off his back and Monkey smacking and yanking the wolf's head as much as he can. Zhongcheng smacks his side into a nearby wall, hoping to scrape the langur off him to no avail. They pass by building after building, with neither party having a clue as to where they are going whilst Crane watches on, waiting for an opportune moment. Luckily, he doesn't have to wait for long as he sees the two of them about to run head first into the back of a stone inn. He flies down, noticing his simian friend covering the wolf's eyes so they can finally put this chase to an end. As they get closer and closer, Monkey looks up to see Crane diving towards him. He grabs onto his leg right as the bird swoops by, leaving the masked commander to run head first into the wall.
Unfortunately, Zhongcheng reacts quick enough to jump onto the wall and climb up to the nearest window before smashing through it. Picking up his pace once more, he sprints through the inn hall with each resident opening their door one by one to see the commotion, only for a black blur to pass right by them and crash through the other window at the end of the hall.
As he leaps out of the inn, he lands on the rooftop of another low building. This time, he keeps his speed up, not at all willing to make the same mistake he had made moments ago. After gaining a fair distance away from the inn, he looks back to see Crane and Monkey fly from around the inn whilst Po jumps down from its roof and Tigress leaps out of the window he had just broken, keeping in hot pursuit. They are certainly persistent; I'll give them that. This venomous thought passes through his mind only to be snuffed out as he turns his head forward once more, the sight of a plain, wooden tower down at the end of these low rooves. They've circled back around to the city square, and from what he's memorised of his maps, this tower is made to house all of the city's peasants and labourers. He looks to his belt, to the several metallic balls with a fuse. One of Gongjiang's newer, more destructive inventions.
Perfect.
With a horrific plan in mind, Zhongcheng doesn't look back as he sprints to the tower and leaps into it through one of its many windows.
Crash!
"Woah!" The wolf looks to the little bunny boy who exclaims in excitement before taking him into his arm and kicking the door open, leaving the kid's mother screaming for help. As he exits into the tower's large, winding stairwell, he notices several lanterns hanging off the walls. The rest of the residents look on in shock and confusion at this mysterious demon-masked man as he climbs up the walls with his claws, the laughing bunny kid held in one of his paws. Reaching one of these lanterns, he rests the kid under his arm that clings onto the wall whilst he takes three metallic balls in his other paw and lights their fuses, dropping them to the ground floor below.
As the four masters get closer to the tower, a bunny woman appears out the window that Zhongcheng had broken through, "Some maniac just took my baby boy! Please help!" At these shrieks, a horrid scowl deforms Tigress' face. To think that freak would take a child hostage, does he have no shame?
Boom! Bam! Kaboom!
All four warriors look to the bottom of the tower in horror as parts of its foundation are completely obliterated whilst its wooden walls catch on fire. Without a moments' hesitation, Tigress orders, "Crane, fly up to every window of this building and evacuate everyone inside. Monkey, you climb up the outside and do the same. Po, you and I will evacuate everyone from the inside of the tower. Now go!" They all move to do their duties, with Monkey taking the bunny mother outside and telling her to go as far away from the area as possible.
Po and Tigress barge out of the bunny family's door and into the stairwell, almost immediately coughing at the smoke beginning to consume the building from the bottom floor. They rush along the stairs, yelling at anyone who can to get to their windows to be taken out by Crane or Monkey. As they go higher up the crumbling tower, they notice several metallic balls fall down to the bottom whilst one lands right by their feet. Though they don't know what it is, they immediately sprint away, just able to dodge the explosion that engulfs part of the stairs in flames. Po darts his head upwards to see the masked madman, his jade eyes widening at the sight of a bunny child in his arms.
Rumble!
Tremors shake through their bodies as the tower's foundation groans and shakes under its own weight. There isn't much time left till the entire building collapses in on itself. Beginning to lose air, Po coughs out, "Tigress! Boost me up!" He points up to Zhongcheng, "We don't have much time!" Seeing the demon-masked freak punch a hole in the ceiling and climb out with the bunny child in their paws, Tigress nods and immediately grabs her panda by the arms. She spins him around her until enough momentum builds up and chucks him up to the ceiling. Right after this, she sprints up the stairs to make sure everyone is out.
Po speeds through the air, smashing straight through the ceiling and landing on the roof just in front of Zhongcheng. Seeing his adversary, the wolf commander holds the bunny outwards, stopping him where he stands. With the fires of the dying tower burning in his eyes, the dragon warrior warns, "Don't you dare."
Though part of him is intrigued by the panda's sudden bout of fury, the rumbles of this crumbling tower remind him that he is a bit strapped for time. He looks the bunny in the eye, "Do you want to have some fun, kid?" The bunny nods with an oblivious smile, giving the wolf the go ahead to throw him off the roof. Po jumps after the bunny child whilst Zhongcheng leaps off just as the tower's structure fails itself.
Midway through the air, the panda master is only just able to reach the kid in time, holding him close as they fall through the sky. The roars and groans of crumbling wood infect the sky as plumes of smoke flood the streets from the collapsing tower, staining the snow a hideous grey. He closes his eyes as he braces for impact.
Bam!
"…Ow." Po mutters out, wedging himself out of the crater he has made in a nearby building's roof. He loosens his embrace to see the bunny child, an innocent smile on his face.
"That was so cool!"
Jade irises widen in shock, "… No, no it wasn't." He waggles his finger at the little boy, shaking his head as the bunny giggles again.
"My baby boy! Oh, thank you, sir!" The bunny woman runs over to the panda master and scoops her son in her arms, showering him with kisses as she holds him tight.
"Hey, its nothing. Really." Po insists as he rolls his shoulders, wincing as they let out a loud crack. As he stands up, his legs wobble slightly. That fall must've been worse than he thought, or maybe it was the smoke that entered his lungs. Probably both. He looks over to the streets below, seeing his friends checking if everyone they evacuated is okay. Though his smile widens at the sight, a light, ancient whisper forces it back down again, telling him of something lurking in the alleyway below.
No, someone.
With a vicious scowl on his face, the dragon warrior sprints over to the alley and jumps down, tackling the demon-masked wolf to the ground. He is greeted with a sharp kick to the head in response, making his head go woozy again along with the terrible fall. Zhongcheng growls at the panda master, beyond furious at his unyielding, irritating persistence. Although, this quality is fantastic in a soldier. And no one else is here to assist him. With a malicious grin consuming his masked face, his eyes glow a deep blue. "You insolent, panda."
All that Po can see is a black blur coming towards him, then a quick, dull pressure on his forehead and then… nothing. This nothingness shifts to a floaty feeling, almost like he is sleeping… wait, is he?
Thump.
Jade eyes open up to… his room at the Jade Palace? "Huh?" He sits himself up off the floor to see everything as it should be. Action figures up on his desk, yin-yang staff leaning on the wall, and a chunk of rock broken by his hardcore love held on a pedestal… Did he dream all of that? Like, all the Zhongcheng stuff? If that's the case… then he needs to get some better dreams than that. With a humorous grin, he slides his door open and stands out in the hallway, eyes hovering on the door opposite his…
Why does something not feel right? Actually, a few things. The colours, they look pale. Jade looks like mould. Red looks like flesh. Dull. Lifeless. It's quiet, no not just quiet. Silent. Like sound itself had been ripped away from the world. Has it always been like this? No, definitely not. Maybe it just feels like it after a dream, yeah, that must be it… Though he never felt like this after a dream before.
Keeping his smile screwed on his face, he slides open his love's door to find… No one. No biggie, she must be training. But… has her room always been this… empty? She has never been one for big decorations, but he is fairly sure that she had more than just a futon… right? Out of curiosity, he slinks over to the room next to hers and slides the door open.
Again, a futon and nothing more… That's definitely not right. He opens another door, and another, and another only to find empty, blank canvases of rooms as if they were never inhabited at all. Has it gotten even more quiet?
Where is everyone?
Feeling panic begin to rise in his heart, the panda runs out of the barracks. Skeletal trees surround the palace's exterior, their dead leaves having faded away long ago. He notices their branches leaning towards the left though there is no wind. Where is the wind? Why isn't there even a light breeze? He doesn't keep this in mind, for the direction of those trees is far worse.
The palace's memorial garden.
He runs through the garden, greenery turned to mulch, flowers with petals scrunched and withered up, moss aged and sickly. He runs to the very end of the garden where a withered, cracked statue of the turtle master stands. By his sides are… a red panda master. An insect master. A langur master. A snake master. A crane master. A tiger master.
Why can't he remember their names?
Tears begin to pour from his eyes, a sweet and loving memory encased in every single one. He remembers each kiss he shared with the tiger, he remembers their long nights of tranquil silence, he remembers telling her how much he loved her each and every single day.
Why can't he remember her name?
He remembers being raised by a goose chef, being named a warrior unlike anyone has ever seen, a best buddy, a sweet guy, a funny friend. He remembers their faces, their life, everything that had mattered yet…
Why can't he remember their names?
Why aren't they here?
Why is he alone?
There is a single tiny reflective surface on the tiger master's statue, a mirror that practically beckons to him. He looks inside to see… a panda with jade eyes only wrinkled, haggard and tired. His eyes are reddened yet dry. His fur is greasy and knotted together. Grief is engraved on his face, almost as if it has become part of him. He knows this panda.
So why can't he remember his name?
"They're all gone."
Tears pour down his eyes, "No." A pathetic whisper seeps out of him, praying that this isn't true.
"They left you here."
"Don't… don't say that… please…"
"You're all alone here."
"Shut up. Shut up! Don't… They're not-they can't go!"
"They will never come back."
"They can't leave me! They can't leave me here alone! I can't!" The panda begins to fade away, "No, don't you leave me too! Please! Don't leave me! I can't take it on my own! Please!"
Zhongcheng watches on as the mighty dragon warrior falls to the floor, shivering and shaking. Tears profusely pour out of his pure white eyes, as if they will never cease their grief. Po holds himself tightly, desperately wishing for his father, his darling tiger, anyone to come and hold him, to take him away from this crushing loneliness. "Don't leave me alone, please. Please don't leave me. I can't handle it. I can't take it. I can't live. I need you back." He mumbles at rapid speed, almost like he is reciting a prayer. To anyone else this would be disturbing, sickening, disgusting.
To Zhongcheng, it is what must be done. With a dark smirk on his lips, he speaks to the petrified panda, "Don't worry, Po, I won't-
"Raaaaggggghhhhhh!"
A shadowy figure leaps from the shadows and bats the wolf commander away with their bo staff, extinguishing the light from his eyes and bringing Po's irises and pupils back. Now free from the wolf's manipulation, the dragon warrior clutches his head and groans. He looks to the figure standing ready through watery eyes. Though he is confused, he is certainly grateful for this stranger.
Ruby orbs give a deadly stare to the wolf, only to widen at the sight of the demon mask. It can't be. Meanwhile, Zhongcheng stares down the hooded figure as he lays on the floor, sneaking his paw behind him to unclip something from his belt. It is in this motion however; he notices the intricate details of the bo staff. It is coloured a deep red with an amber tiger and golden phoenix circling around its length, meeting at the top. That weapon can only belong to one person.
Though he wears a smile behind his mask, the hatred that burns in his eyes is capable of melting steel. "And here I thought I would never see you again." His deep voice strikes a cold yet scathing tone as he stands back up, both paws held behind his back.
"Likewise." This scathing tone is mirrored back by the hooded figure, yet their eyes darken to the colour of blood, drowning their soul in their immeasurable fury.
A heartless chuckle emanates from Zhongcheng's demon mask, "This has been a long time coming… And I believe that it's far too early for our reunion." He drops a metallic capsule on the ground that envelopes him in a thick layer of smoke, catching the cloaked figure off-guard. They strike the smoke with their bo staff, but it is already too late.
Zhongcheng has escaped.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, the figure begins to turn around only for Tigress to kick them to the wall and hold them there by the neck with her forearm. Ruby eyes widen at the sight of her ferocious scowl and her teeth grit to the point of cracking, but it is not out of fear. Not even out of shock. It's out of recognition. She lets out a disgusting snarl, reeling her fist back to beat this maniac into submission. "Tigress, wait!" She turns at the sound of Po's weakened voice, "It's not the same guy. Besides, he saved me from… the masked… guy."
Amber irises take another look at the figure, noticing that under their hood are black face wrappings concealing all but their feline eyes. Strangely enough, they feel familiar to her. Shaking this odd feeling off, Tigress interrogates them, "And where is this masked man?"
For a brief moment the hooded feline takes in the tiger master's full figure, making her somewhat uncomfortable. Luckily, they stop before it becomes weird, "He had escaped shortly after I had saved the dragon warrior from his petrifying grasp." His voice is deep yet soft, comforting and soothing yet powerful.
She stares him down for a few more seconds before finally deciding to release her hold on his neck, with Crane and Monkey arriving shortly after. They ready up in their stances only for Tigress to shake her head, "He's not our enemy." Kneeling down to her loving panda, she caresses his cheek with Po immediately holding her paw close to his cheek. Concern burns in her eyes, noticing how much he relishes her touch, almost as if he had been starved of it. What happened? Against her better judgement, she brushes this thought aside for now, "Can you sense them?"
With a paw clutched to the side of his head, he shakes it in response, "I don't think so, my head is still a bit woozy…" He groans, earning a sympathetic look from everyone, including the hooded feline.
"Crane, search the area." The avian master nods at his tiger comrade's command before shooting up into the air. With this, Tigress picks her panda up off the ground and keeps a paw on his back as she inquires to the hooded figure once more, "You may have helped Po, but I want answers." The figure nods in response before picking their bo staff off the floor, "Who are you?"
"I am a friend of the emperor."
Both her and Monkey give each other a disbelieving glance, "If this is true, then why hasn't the emperor told us about you?"
"And how come you didn't help us out sooner?" The langur master adds, a sceptical expression clear on his face.
The figure removes their cloak from their person, bundling it up in their arms as they answer, "The emperor had promised to keep my presence a secret," All three masters' eyes widen at this.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Bigshot, I didn't realise the emperor makes promises to you." Tigress glares at Monkey after this snarky remark, urging the figure to continue.
"And until this point, I thought you wouldn't need any of my help." Whilst Monkey lets out an incredulous scoff, Tigress and Po find themselves gazing at something else. The figure's tail. Now it is no doubt that they are a feline, but their tail is unlike anything the pair have ever seen. It has a striped pattern yet it is a strange mix of white, orange and… gold? Just who or what is this creature?
"Um… I don't know if I'd agree with that. We were having a bit of trouble with this guy." Crane chimes in as he lands back in the alley, "Oh, and just to confirm, the demon mask guy did escape."
The three other masters sigh at this. So close, and yet they just managed to slip from their grasp. However, Tigress focuses her attention back on the strange feline, "You still haven't answered my first question. Who are you? And how do we know we can trust you?"
They see the feline smile through their face bindings, though it isn't a mocking smile, it is genuine. "I have served with your master in the past." Once again, the masters all look to each other in disbelief, "He can confirm that himself." They place their cloak in the same arm as their bo staff, allowing for their free paw to reach up to their face bindings.
"As for who I am…" They unwrap these bindings carefully and with absolute precision until, their face is revealed shocking all four masters to their very core. Standing before them is a golden tiger, his stripes a dark orange whilst the rest of his fur is a mix of gold and white, their plush colours fitting perfectly with the snow littering the place. His ruby eyes look upon the gobsmacked faces of the warriors but none are more shocked than master Tigress. Wearing a proud smile on his features, he finally introduces himself, "My name is Zhonglei, and I have much to show you."
A lot to take in, I know... But I won't say much... I'll let the chapter speak for itself and get to work on the next one. Until next time :)