Author's Note: Hey everyone! It has been quite a while hasn't it? Heh heh, sorry to leave you lot hanging after unveiling Zhonglei like that. Life's just been a bit crazy and busy and all that. But now I'm back, and I'll try to update a bit more often. As for this chapter, it has been uncharacteristically nightmarish for me to actually get this to the spot that I wanted it to go, but luckily I did it. And let me tell you, it is a doozy (You've probably already noticed by the title). I hope you're all ready for a neat surprise near the end of the chapter. Anyways, lets get on with it!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP! (I need news for KFP 4, its driving me nuts!)

Enjoy.

The Zhanshi Clan

As the Jade Palace masters march along to the emperor's palace, with Zhonglei at the helm, Po's mind seems to lie elsewhere. His eyes look upon the path, his legs carry him on his way yet no thought it spared. Not even to the barely audible whisper in his head, beckoning him to look to a building far off in the distance. The universe's clairvoyant voice is hollowed out by a single haunting sight, a nightmare embedded in a potential future. Empty rooms, wilted memorials.

Forgotten names.

No, he would never forget them. He would never let that happen. But how does he know what will happen a thousand years from now? What if there simply is no way to avoid this? What if he really is destined to live on alone as everyone he loves passes on?

He can't describe the feeling in his heart, a coldness that burns his very being, emptied of warmth yet scorched by a fear that has watched him since he had attained this title. A fear that had finally taken form. He had never wanted to imagine it, not once. Now that he has, it won't escape his sight.

His silence is heard by all in the unofficial procession, but they know better than to ask what is going through is mind in spite of the questions that persist. Even Tigress forces herself to leave him be, knowing well enough that whatever nightmare he had witnessed in his mind, can only truly be fought by him and only him. Though part of her worries if he will make the same mistake he made in Gongmen city.

If he will make the same mistake as her.

She strengthens her gaze, swiping her fears away as she walks alongside Zhonglei. Strangely enough, that feeling of familiarity only grows more intense. Perhaps she had seen him and Shifu together when she was younger? No, she would certainly remember another tiger, especially one with such a strange fur colour.

Ruby eyes gaze into amber as the golden tiger turns to face her. He flashes her a kind smile, though a layer of sympathy takes shelter beneath it, "We should be arriving there soon, Master Tigress."

"And what exactly is there?" She inquires in her rehearsed stoic tone; however, she notices something beyond Zhonglei's smile. His eyes hold that same familiarity but unlike hers, it is mixed with certainty. A certainty that can see through her cold guise as if it is glass.

"You will see… Have patience." Tigress notes his voice softening until it mirrors the bristles of a paint brush, his tone almost seeming… fatherly?

Don't be ridiculous. She swats away that thought immediately. She had seen what happened to her… father… For a flash of a second, the tiger master sees the hollow and dead amber eyes of the abomination that was once her father. An image that ignites a flame she had thought was long extinguished or at the very least, tempered. Before this can expand any further, she manages to pull herself out, noticing Zhonglei's lips now contorted in a concerned frown. With slightly narrowed eyes, Tigress leaves him with a curt huff before retreating further back into the group.

It doesn't take long for Shifu to take her place beside the former general, but not before giving the wallowing dragon warrior a look that says, 'We need to talk'. Po can only respond in a weak nod, further planting a seed of worry down in the elder master's heart. If that feeling of dread the dragon warrior had shown a mere week ago is linked to this, then these nightmarish visions could be far more dangerous than any of them realise. He pushes this aside for now, engaging in some long-awaited small talk with his old friend.

However, as the two catch up, Crane quietly shuffles over to Tigress with a knowing yet equally speculative expression. "You still don't trust him?" Though it sounds like an inquiry, the two masters know it is more of a statement than anything else.

"I wouldn't go that far…" She crosses her arms as her eyes narrow further in concentration, that strange familiarity trying to pry at memories she would rather keep at the back of her mind. "I have no doubt that Shifu knows him as a great man, but people can change drastically within a year, let alone several."

Pondering on this for a few moments, her astute avian comrade reminds her, "But he saved Po."

Unfazed by this counter, Tigress immediately retorts, "Yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean he is on our side." As yellow irises give her a quizzical glance, she explains, "He may have his own motives that clashes with whoever we are dealing with, perhaps he has even worse planned for us."

"And you're absolutely sure about this?"

"No." Crane's confusion deepens until his feline sister explains herself once more, "But it is good to be prepared for that eventuality. Chances are, master Shifu already is." Though he isn't quite sure of this, he certainly wouldn't put it past his master to remain cautious, even with old friends.

However, one last question makes itself known, one that had popped into his mind the second Zhonglei had revealed his face. "Do you think he could be related to the Zhanshi clan? Maybe even be part of it?"

Tigress' stern features soften a tad, enough for her bird brother to notice. "…The thought has crossed my mind…"

"And?" It doesn't take long for Crane to realise she hadn't answered his question.

Though her face remains stoic, her eyes wilt further as they gaze at the mysterious golden tiger. "I'm not one for wishful thinking." A hint of melancholy ripples through her low voice, spreading over to Crane's already pitying eyes.

As the group arrives by the snow-capped gates of the emperor's palace, Zhonglei leads the warriors around the perimeter wall, only arousing more suspicion from Crane, Tigress and Shifu. However, Viper's eyes merely look forward as she continues along the path, her mind taking refuge elsewhere. Monkey gives his sister a sympathetic expression as he notices her eyes on the verge of tears.

The moment he had entered the hospital, he had wanted to leave. That wretched amalgamation of fear, pain, and death. It wasn't a sight that would leave him anytime soon and he knows that it has its talons clenched tightly into his serpent sister's heart and its shackles embedded into her mind.

All he could really think about was how… helpless they all were. That so many innocent people are now imprisoned in their mind and the keys have been all but thrown away. For a moment that image changes in his mind, his late brother on place of those trapped victims. Mantis snaps him out of that momentary stupor as he hops onto his best friend's shoulder, sighing at the sight of his clearly troubled sister. Though Wu-Kong's face no longer occupies his mind, a familiar ache takes its place, making the langur gaze at Zhonglei with eyes devoid of mischief and bathed in frustration. Let's hope this guy finally has some good news.

As the hooded tiger continues to lead them around the palace's perimeter wall, the path shrinks to a narrow road and descends towards the icy cold yellow river which toys with the rocky path wave after wave. This narrow, precarious path forces the group to continue down single file, only heightening Shifu's suspicion of Zhonglei's intentions. "Why are you taking us through here? Can't you simply tell us who we are dealing with?" A strong wave crashes against the rocky path, making all except for the hooded tiger jump at its suddenness.

Now snapped out of his unwilling reminiscence, Po plants his back against the wall, caution paramount in his eyes. Though he wants to fanboy at the prospect of a hidden village underneath the emperor's palace, he does not plan to be swept up in the river's deathly chill anytime soon. "Y-yeah, I mean this is cool and mysterious and all, but we don't have a lot of time."

As he points out this fact, Zhonglei's face turns solemn whilst Viper's grieving expression deepens. That poor little piglet's face flashes in her mind before briefly being swapped out for her own. She shifts her focus back to their perilous path, burying that saddening image deep down as Zhonglei speaks in a serious tone. "It is not only the culprit that I must show you. There is much more that you need to see, away from prying eyes."

There it is again, 'Away from prying eyes.' Why? What is with all this secrecy? Then again, if not only shifu, but the emperor himself, trusts this unusual tiger then who are they to protest? All seven warriors hold their tongue out of both respect and a cautious sense of intrigue as the rocky path continues to wind around the illustrious palace's perimeter walls, miniscule mounds of snow littering its very edge.

After a few more minutes of carefully manoeuvring through this precarious path, Zhonglei brings the procession to a halt, now finally reaching the back end of the palace. It is only now that the warriors realise just how far down this path goes, the palace's walls held up high by this sedimentary pedestal. A giant, jagged cliff face, draped in a curtain of snow awaits them, only bringing more confusion to the group. Confusion that is immediately extinguished once the golden tiger wipes a chunk of snow off the centre of the wall, revealing something carved onto it.

Seven vertical and horizontal lines crossing each other, a flame sat in the centre.

All seven masters' eyes widen in awe at the sight, recognising this symbol immediately. Tigress feels something tug at her heart as Crane looks to each of his friends and asks in disbelief, "I-is that…"

Before he can even finish, Zhongeli fishes something out from under his cloak. Something that makes the hopeful fire in Tigress' heart burn even brighter. A medallion in the shape of the Zhanshi clan symbol. Ruby irises gaze at the shocked tiger master as the former general slots the medallion into the carved rock face. With a heartfelt grin etched onto his lips, he twists the medallion around and swiftly takes it back out.

"Welcome home, master Tigress."

After a single moment, the entire cliff face trembles as the wall in front of them begins to rise up, revealing a seemingly endless set of cobblestone stairs, the cavern walls lined with auburn torches. Whilst the rest of her friends look on at the rising gate in a mix of excitement and surprise, Tigress can barely even move. She can barely speak. Even thinking has become a near impossibility because of all the emotions swimming around in her heart. These feelings only grow stronger as two muscular tigers wielding spears emerge from the sides, standing at attention.

They're here. They're really here. Her people. Her clan. Those moments of longing she had extinguished ignite once more, burning her heart with an anticipation that she tries desperately to temper. She stops herself short of sprinting down the steps with a single thought. What if this is a trap? What if he is toying with us? Though her heart outright refuses to believe it, her cautious mind pushes aside this yearning feeling just as she feels Po's paw cradle hers.

Now snapped out of her mind's paralysis, she turns to face her panda who gives her a sweet, empathetic smile, knowing just how mind-blowing this must be for her. After so long, she can finally meet more people like her. She can finally understand who she is wholly. A shaky breath escapes her lips as she looks into her panda's kind and thankful eyes, assuring her this is real. Tigress gives him a small yet hopeful smile in return though something else is contained in it that the panda has rarely ever seen in her.

Fear.

Understanding her uncertainty, Po gives her paw a light squeeze to reassure her as Zhonglei motions them to follow him, unaware of the melancholic glance he had given to Tigress. The two guards kneel as the procession passes them down to the stairs, saluting once again as Po and Tigress enter last, gaining a raised eyebrow from the conflicted tiger master.

As the group descends into the caverns underneath the emperor's abode, the rock gate shuts behind them with a monstrous thud. The auburn glow of the torches make the cobblestone stairs just about visible to the regular eye, making all but the tigers in the group squint their eyes as they tiptoe in practical darkness. "So, this is where you've been for so long." Zhonglei keeps a relaxed smile on his face as Shifu once again trudges alongside him, "This is why it felt like you had suddenly disappeared. You've been part of the Zhanshi clan." To the golden tiger's mild surprise, there isn't a hint of anger nor betrayal in his elder friend's voice.

"I'm sorry for all the secrecy, but I have my reasons."

"The same reasons the guys in Xiwang valley were hidden?" Monkey butts in, suspicious amidst his excitement.

Zhonglei nods, prompting Crane to open his beak but before anything can come out, the golden tiger continues, "I'm sure you have many questions, whether it be about the clan or me, and I implore you, have patience." He stops the group again as they reach the bottom of the stairs, a gigantic set of steel doors just in front of them. Tigress' lungs clutch at the air tightly, both enamoured and equally terrified of what awaits them. Noting her paralysed expression, Zhonglei's smile grows wider, as if he knows just what this means to her. "For the answers you seek are just behind this door."

Bam bam!

As he raps his knuckles on the doors, their metallic clangs reverberate throughout the entire cavern, sending an intimidating chill up Crane's spine. Not long after, those monoliths of steel groan and creak as they begin to open inwards. His eyes practically sparkling in excitement, Po can't help himself but to whisper, "That's so cool!"

Mantis leans over to Po's ear with an impressed grin, "You got that right."

Unlike her comrades, Tigress' excitement is buried in a pit of anxiety. She can feel her fur rising and the quivering touch of goosebumps dancing along her skin. She had never imagined how terrifying this moment would actually be, that after decades of unanswered questions and certain impossibilities, she will finally be able to see where she came from. Her paw unconsciously squeezes Po's as her worry builds further, with her panda squeezing back in reassurance.

After a few moments, those gigantic steel doors fully open, the sight inside reducing all seven masters to expressions of slack-jawed awe. A gigantic sprawling cavern welcomes them, multitudes of torches and crystals protrude from the walls and ceiling, making the village bask in an auburn glow akin to the warmth of the setting sun. Row upon row of wooden and metallic buildings pave the way, leaving a single rock-lathered road in the village's centre. At the very end of this road stands a majestic tower paved in gold and jade, its engraved phoenix patterns staring down the warriors with its encrusted amber jewels. However, in spite of this stunning display, the buildings are not what draws the warriors' attention.

Huddles of orange, black and white mingle through the village's central road, their striped patterns complementing the fiery light gliding across their fur. Armour plates and training vests accompany a majority of the citizens mingling on this road, with many others adorned in elegant yet practical robes. What immediately stands about above all else, are the felines' crystalline eyes, burning with an ever-present fire that cannot be extinguished.

This… this can't be real. Tigress stares on with irises practically shining in happiness, overwhelmed by just how many tigers there are. By how many people there are just like her. Her friends can feel this boundless joy radiating off her as they find themselves unable to move themselves out of their shocked paralysis. Unable to fathom the reality of it all.

The Zhanshi clan are alive.

Giving a proud yet empathetic smile to the masters, Zhonglei lightly jokes, "Feel free to come in." As he heads past the metallic doors, Tigress manages to keep down her endless stream of emotions before leading her comrades into a world they had once thought to be lost to the ravages of time. A nation that had been reduced to nothing more than a palimpsest. Yet now, as they walk amongst the village's inhabitants, those phantoms start to fade. Pulling his hood back, the golden tiger smiles to a few of his fellow villagers whilst the tiger master just behind him can't help but to stare at some of the feline residents. Mothers hold the hands of their cubs, playing with them as they go about their daily business. Several of the more muscular male tigers sing shanties whilst others give noogies to their close friends. She can't help but to grin as a few of the older tiger cubs zoom around with prop swords, making sound effects with their mouths whilst playfighting. That is, until one of them gasps at the sight of her.

"Woah! Is it really you?"

Tigress' eyes widen at his question but before she can even attempt to answer, a white tiger cub does so for her. "Oh, my gods, it is! It's master Tigress!"

"Eeeee! Can you teach me your double palm strike!? Ooh, or the mega turbo split kick?" At the orange cub's rapid requests, Tigress finds her grin once more, their antics reminding her of a certain panda.

Speaking of which, "No way! The dragon warrior and the furious five are here too!" One of the armoured female tigers points out to the crowd that has now formed around them, resulting in what seems like the whole village bowing in respect to them. "It is our honour to welcome you to our humble village."

Surprised jade orbs glance at ruby irises smiling at them from the front, "Wait, you guys know about us?" A tiny bit of the fanboy in him forces a smile out of him, relishing at the fact that this hidden clan of warriors still shows respect to him.

"Of course, we do. We may be hidden from the rest of the world, but it would be insulting to not know of China's greatest saviours." Zhonglei speaks on behalf of the village folk before motioning forward one last time, the warriors continuing past their bowing audience.

As they make their way through the rest of the village, a few sights catch their eyes. Monkey and Mantis notice a tiger duo performing flips and tricks through flaming hoops and bars in front of a crowd of excited onlookers, capping of their current performance with one of the tigers breathing fire out into the air, dumbfounding the kung fu buddies.

Smirking at her brothers' lack of knowledge in this sort of thing, Viper switches her attention elsewhere, only to quickly avert her eyes as she notices a white tiger couple passionately making out near an alley. "Hm, you guys seem quite passionate."

Zhonglei lets out a slightly embarrassed chuckle as he glances at the impassioned couple, "We certainly can be." Brushing this aside, the golden tiger notices Crane and Shifu gaze at the local blacksmith, a stout and short orange tiger with a slightly overgrown beard, currently crafting a set of shields for his tiger brothers. Noticing their intrigued eyes, the blacksmith nods his head in respect to the kung fu masters before continuing with his work, gaining a thankful smile from Zhonglei. Thankful that the clan had someone so talented to forge all their equipment.

He shifts his attention to the dragon warrior, who gawks at the modest wooden pagoda occupying the space between two larger building, a gigantic smile embedded in his face as he watches a large group of orange tigers practice their forms with a white tiger leading them. "Sweet." Zhonglei grins at the panda's whisper, waving over to the training group that now bows in respect to the legendary masters. Ruby irises glance over at Tigress, her eyes focused on the village's pride and joy.

The arena.

Second only to the gold and jade tower at the end of the village, this coliseum daunts over the west side of the village, its walls built with fine marble stone and reinforced with a shining, polished metal. Yet again, the patterns of the phoenix and the dragon wind around the gigantic building, their eyes embedded with amber and emerald jewels respectively. A headdress of torches lines the arena's open roof, its dancing flames wishing to reach the ruby crystal wedged into the cavern ceiling. To say it is a work of art would be an understatement. Not only that, but it tramples over the illustration Tigress had seen mere days ago. An unconscious, wide smile spreads across her lips. Finally, she won't have to imagine anymore. She won't have to rely on images and tall tales to connect with her kind. It's real. All of it. The Zhanshi clan, the huo tournament, everything she had ever hoped for is right here.

And yet… it all feels so… right. Nothing feels foreign or strange, in fact, everything has a strange bit of familiarity to it… Was this her home? If so, then why were her parents in Xiwang valley? Despite this momentous occasion, her mind still finds new ways to try and dampen it down. The fire in her heart, however, persists. After years of waiting, of hoping, she has found her home.

But hadn't you already found it?

This concern devolves to a mere whisper in her mind, as her gaze finally rips itself away from the Zhanshi clan's arena and to the sight of Zhonglei quickly averting his eyes away from her. Yet again, this familiar feeling persists. Why? This question soon expands as she notices a few of the tigers passing by give her odd looks. Nothing rude or provocative, in fact, it almost seems… Empathetic? Awe-stricken? She takes a quick glance over to her comrades to realise that those odd looks practically vanish to the usual hero worship they normally get. Do they know what had happened in Xiwang valley? Is that why both Zhonglei and the rest of the clan keep giving her these strange looks? As she focuses her attention back on the golden tiger leading them, she immediately notices his head turn away from her, only inviting her eyes to narrow in a suspicious sense of concern.

As they all inch ever closer to the magnificent tower at the village's edge, the tiger master simply can't hold her questions any longer. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Zhonglei brings the entire group to a halt as his face relaxes into a soft, grateful smile.

He turns to face her, his smile growing as he looks deeply into her eyes. Out of instinct, Po takes a protective step in front of his tiger, but she simply puts a paw on his shoulder. His ruby orbs mean no harm, instead, they are layered with a tenderness that she wouldn't expect from someone she has met so recently. "I simply… can't believe you're here." For a moment, Tigress can swear that tears brim in the golden tiger's eyes. She readies herself to ask another burning question, but Zhonglei can already read it in her amber irises. "The last time I saw you… You were cradled in your father's arms." His eyes shift to the floor in remembrance, "You were the sweetest little cub."

Whilst her comrades look to each other in confusion, Tigress stares wide-eyed at his old friend. "You… knew my father?" A timid whisper escapes her lips as she takes a step closer to the golden tiger.

Resisting the urge to chuckle at that, Zhonglei gives a response that once again puts all the masters into shock.

"Knew him…? He was my brother."

Amber irises stare at him in disbelief for a few moments until a brief image flashes in her mind. A blur, a room, a place. An orange tiger with amber eyes, her father… And… a golden tiger petting her head with a sweet, loving smile. He was there. She… she had thought her blood family was all gone, but now, it seems the Gods had blessed them both. Reunited after… decades. Not a single word escapes her at this revelation. Instead, all she can do is stare at him, a soft, miniscule smile on her face.

Po and Shifu gaze wide-eyed at Zhonglei, completely dumbfounded by this discovery. "Wait… You mean, you're Tigress' uncle?" At this, the golden tiger gives a proud nod, making the dragon warrior shift his gaze over to his love. He can see how her tail almost curls into itself, how her lips wobble ever so slightly, how her shoulders let out a microscopic shiver at the feeling of goosebumps running across her skin. Though it isn't immediately obvious, he can sense how her happiness overwhelms her. A happiness that spreads to him. To think that she can experience a life with not only her clan, but her blood relatives as well. How could he not be grateful?

Gurgle!

This tender moment is cut short however, as a gastric roar bellows into the air, making all masters aside from Tigress look towards their panda master. "Hey, it wasn't me. I already ate at the palace."

Gurgle!

This time, they look towards the actual source of the sound. Tigress' stomach. Bashful, she looks off to the side as Zhonglei lets out an endearing chortle at her expense. "It seems we've all been working a bit too hard, haven't we? Perhaps we should break for a moment?" He stretches his arm out towards a small wooden tavern named 'Zui's* Baijiu banquet', "After all, it will be little use to go after our enemy when we're low on energy." As if they're responding to the golden tiger's request, the rest of the five's bellies start to growl in hunger, with even Shifu's having a mind of its own.

Though he would prefer not to have any more diversions, the red panda can't deny how much he has been starving since their trip to the forbidden city. Heaving a great sigh, the grandmaster reminds his old friend, "Very well, but once we're all finished, you will tell us everything we need to know. We don't have a lot of time." Whilst his students bow to him in affirmation, Zhonglei simply nods to the elder master with a grim expression on his face. Of course, Shifu wants his daughter to reconnect with her family, her clan, but there simply is no time to waste. Their enemy could strike at any moment.

They all enter the tavern, unaware of what will soon be taking place up on the surface.

1* Zui = Chinese for drunk

Holy crap Zhonglei is Tigress' uncle! Now, I know, this brings quite a few questions going forward but rest assured, they'll be answered soon. As for the Zhanshi clan being back, they have a massive role in both this story and the next one. (Yes, I have a third one planned and trust me, they are BIG plans.) Hope this is a good enough gift after being away for so long. As for the next chapter... things will be falling into place real soon. Trust me. Until next time :)