Author's Note: Alright, this one took a fair bit to write and... things are going to go bad for our heroes really quickly. And I mean REALLY quickly. Now I'm just hoping that I've paced this in a way that isn't confusing or straight up strange. Either way, let's get right on into it, shall we? Oh WAIT! I almost forgot to say, there are a few surprises in the chapter, and you'll know just what I mean real soon. Okay, now lets get into it!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!

Enjoy.

A Caged Bird

As the torched tower continues to light up the sky, Crane and Monkey speed across the rooftops, their lungs burning as their bodies tear through the chilling air. The screams and panicked cries of its inhabitants grow louder as they draw closer to the growing inferno, only making them grow more anxious. "I'll take the top level!" Crane calls out, eyes set directly on the flames consuming the roof.

"I've got the bottom! Then we meet in the middle!" Though he would prefer they stick together due to the wolf's knack for trickery, this is the only way to evacuate as many people as possible. Sharing a curt nod, the two warriors separate with Monkey bursting through the front door and Crane ascending to the roof.

Yellow irises widen as a chunk of ashen wood collapses over him, the bird master only just managing to dodge this flaming debris as it crashes to the streets below. With no time to lose, he zooms up above the ever-growing fire that begins to cascade to the top floor. He rears his wings back, a soft golden glow shimmering along his feathers, and flaps them forward.

Woosh!

A tremendous gust of wind slices through the air, extinguishing this blaze immediately whilst pushing several blackened tiles off the roof's surface. Though the main threat has been dealt with, the residents inside are not out of the woods yet. He braces himself before diving through one of the top floor's windows. Within an instant of his arrival, the affluent pigs, gazelles and sheep rush over to him, their expressions brightening in spite of their panic. Or at least, Crane thinks he can see that. The copious amount of smoke surrounding the top floor corridor only allows for their outline to be visible. Perfect cover for an ambush. "Stick with me! I'll get you all to safety!" They don't need to be told twice as they huddle beside him, the avian warrior grabbing them by their expensive robes with his talons and weaving his way back out the window. He sets them down by the neighbouring building's rooftop, eyes darting between the group of seven lords and ladies. "Is that everyone!?"

They look to each other, some absent-mindedly nodding, until one gazelle's eyes shrink in terror. "M-my brother! I don't see him!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Crane dives back in through the window. He puts a wing up to his face as the remnant of smoke refuses to dissipate. Door after door has been left wide open, all except for one at the end of the hall. Almost certain of what awaits inside, the avian master zooms forward and kicks the door off its hinges. However, the sight that greets him only gains a confused expression. A gazelle chained up on the floor, his mouth gagged with rope. At seeing his saviour, the gazelle lets out several muffled screams, his eyes flaring in panic. Crane, now alarmed, rushes over to the hostage, still wary of Zhongcheng's potential presence. He pulls down the rope from the gazelle's mouth, unaware of the dark blue eyes watching him from the neighbouring room.

"The door! The door!" His feverish cries force the avian master to dart his head around, unable to see anything out the doorway through the smoke-filled halls. However, a low hissing sound catches his ears. He looks down to the unhinged door, that hiss emanating from underneath it. He picks it up cautiously, only to find a bundle of dynamite strapped to its underside, its fuse a second away from detonating. With no time to snuff out its flame, he shields both himself and the gazelle, his wings glowing brightly.

Boom!

As another explosion punches through the air, Monkey can only stare at the ceiling in terrified awe. However, it doesn't take him long to notice the residents left on the ground floor have frozen in place at the monstrous sound. "C'mon! You have to get out! Move it!" They all run out the front door at the langur master's desperate yells whilst he once again stares at the ceiling. "Hold tight buddy." He mutters, not wanting to entertain the thought of his bird comrade dying up there. He runs for the stairs leading up, only to be greeted by a foot in the face.

Bam!

Though he is sent flying to the floor, he quickly regains his footing as the culprit remains hidden in the shadows of the poorly lit staircase, the only source of light being their single yellow eye. "Oh, help me, master." Monkey's eyes widen in recognition of that mocking feminine voice, "I can't find my way out of here." Su-Wu steps out of the shadows with an eager smirk on her face and her trademark wind-and-fire wheels clutched in her paws.

"And what the hell are you doing here?" The langur master spits at the taunting snow leopard, his attention shifting to the staircase just behind her. He has to get to Crane, even if it means letting her do whatever she pleases.

Unfortunately, Su notices his anxious expression and readies herself in a fighting stance. "Helping out a friend of ours."

A humourless scoff exits Monkey's maw, "So, you're working for Zhongcheng? And here I thought you and your sisters had some shame." As he says this however, something clicks in his mind. "Wait, where are your sisters?" In response, her grin only widens, making him take up his fighting stance. His eyes dart upward for a split second, making eye-contact with Wing just as she pounces at him from the ceiling. He manages to roll out of the way, only to be met by Wan kicking the door open of the room next to him and striking him with her wind-and-fire wheels. He dodges her attacks and kicks her towards Su before ducking another pounce from Wing who lands right by her sisters.

Seeing all three Wu-sisters blocking his way to his friend, Monkey begrudgingly readies himself, already dreading how unprepared he is for this. The sisters only look on at their target with devious grins along their faces, relishing in the fact that they can engage at last.

Meanwhile, off towards the western streets of the city, Viper halts in her tracks at the sight of another cloud of fire engulfing the top floor of the tower whilst Shifu and Zhonglei race towards the docks. Noticing her absence, the elder master runs back for her only to be met with her mortified face. "We have to help them!" She attempts to slither away until she is stopped by her master.

"Viper! Remember what I told yo-

"But this is too much for them, master!" Shocking him with her panicked rebuttal, Viper continues trying to push past him, but Shifu doesn't budge. "They won't be able to hold out for long!"

The red panda's expression softens as he notes the frantic tears glistening in her eyes, but before he can calm her down, Zhonglei rushes to them. "And neither will the soldiers at the docks!" She darts her head to the golden tiger, unable to counter his point but still begging for him to reconsider. Unfortunately, they have no time for this, "I'm sorry about your friends, but we have no other choice. There are too many innocent lives at stake." Though his voice is immovable, a glimmer of sympathy is present in his timbre. A moment of consideration passes through the serpent master's mind before she nods to them both, a tear rolling down her left cheek.

Both Shifu and Zhonglei look to each other before continuing their path to the docks. Viper joins them, but not before giving one last glance to the tower set alight once more, praying that Crane and Monkey will be okay.

Two jade eyes share this sentiment as Po watches the blazing carnage erupting high up the tower. Though his feet carry him further down the east side of the city, his mind pleads him to turn back and help his friends. "Po." Tigress' commanding voice punches through his thoughts, making him look at her. "We need to stay focused." He can see this same struggle within her eyes, wanting to tear off the chains bounding them to their duty. Unfortunately, they both know these shackles have no key. "We can't risk letting Zhongcheng gain full control over the warehouse."

Memorial statues flash into the dragon warrior's eyes, forcing his features to crease in worry. Is this how it will start? Po tries his best to eliminate that damning question, but it is useless. How could he eradicate his nightmare when it inches closer with every step he takes? Paranoia cracks through his skull, wringing out another horrifying possibility, another dreaded question. How will it end? A pathetic attempt is made to steel his face, his unyielding terror still preying on his mind.

"She's right." Mantis pulls his panda friend out of his self-inflicted torture, remaining perched atop his shoulder as they rush through street after street and alley after alley. "There's no telling what he'll do with all that firepower and frankly, I don't wanna find out."

Those fear-filled apparitions try to present themselves again, but the panda master manages to will them away for the time being. He can't let them all down now, he can't let that nightmare become real. Determination burns itself onto his face as he and Tigress pick up their pace, course set on the hidden warehouse overrun by the white wolf's merciless forces.

As they all make their way to fend off Zhongcheng's forces, the fiery aftermath of that explosion tears through the top floor, leaving the back wall of the room completely obliterated. The ceiling's wooden carcass is strewn across the floor, burying its victims underneath as clouds of smoke envelope the air. A single wing rises out of this ashen graveyard, quaking with all the strength it can muster. Crane pulls himself out of the wreckage, his wings burnt and blackened by ash. His straw hat is reduced to dust and the right side of his face bleeds as wooden shrapnel digs into his skin. Though his eyes are barely open, the crimson stain of bloodshot veins infect his right eye.

He looks up to the ceiling, or at least he thinks it's the ceiling. All he can see is a blur of black, grey and orange. All he can hear is a sharp, high-pitched ringing. All he can feel is a searing, merciless pain twisting and contorting his nerves, screaming at his mind to do something. But what can he do with this indomitable weight pressing down on him? He can barely even tell if its rubble crushing him or the unspeakable pain freezing his body in place. All he can really feel aside from that, is his wing being lighter than usual. No doubt the explosion must have burnt some his feathers clean off. Though he tries to move again, the smog of smoke only serves to keep him trapped, stealing all the air it possibly can. Poisonous soot sinks into his windpipe, pummelling his lungs to make him cough and wheeze out into the noxious air. But that damned ringing drowns out the sound of his torment. His blurred vision only allows him the luxury of seeing a mosaic of this catastrophic destruction. Orange, black, grey, blue… Wait.

Blue?

Though it is a pin prick within this collection of coloured blobs, Crane's aching mind puts the pieces together immediately. As their dim, eerie glow begins to rival the roaring flames, the wounded master struggles to pull himself off the floor. However, his dizzy mind and howling pain receptors keep him shackled in place. A hoarse groan exits his beak as that unmistakable blue light envelopes the blobs invading his sight. Agony eats away at his body as he lifts his back a few inches off the ground.

Slam!

Crane chokes out a devastating scream as he feels Zhongcheng stomp on his chest. A new wave of pain ripples through his body as the impact of the wolf's stomp is more akin to a hammer shattering his rib cage. His sight only grows foggier, now blinded by the blue glow shining in his face. Using whatever strength he can manage, he raises his left wing, trembling at the magnified force of gravity pressing down on him. He can feel his weak attempt at a defence be swatted away by the blurred wolf. Before he can even think of a potential strategy, he feels a sudden yet brief pressure on his forehead.

Then blackness.

Yellow irises awaken from this obsidian void, vision as clear as it had been moments before that explosion. Yet, he isn't in that room. Instead of a fine wood ceiling, he sees white stone above him. He practically melts into the plush futon he is lying down upon. With a deep, grateful breath, he takes in the pure, pleasant scent of the air. A hint of tulips glide across the air, caressing his nostrils in their grace. He turns his head to the left, another luxurious futon lying next to him, empty. He sits up in his bed, eyes widening at the large painting hung up on the wall. A painting of his kung fu family, posing in front of the jade palace. All with the tell-tale signs of age littering their faces. His gaze glides across the room, in awe of the fine wood furniture and elegant decorations. But why is he in awe?

This is his home.

He remembers not too long ago that he had announced his engagement with Viper. He still remembers the overjoyed smile on Po's face, the silent pride of Tigress and Shifu, and of course, the suggestive looks of Monkey and Mantis. After so many years of being kung fu masters, after so many years of fighting, they finally retired. For several years they have been living a simple, peaceful life as husband and wife. A wide smile consumes his beak, thankful that this fantasy has become reality. Thankful that whole business with Zhongcheng was a terrible, intrusive memory. That truly was a tough battle, but like always, they managed to pull through. Now if only he could remember how. It has been a while after all.

Creak.

His eyes shift over to the door, only to brighten as he sees his sweet serpent slither into the room with two trays of food on the tip of her tail. "Good morning, sleepyhead." Her voice practically sings to him as she approaches their beds, placing one tray in front of him and the other on top of her bed. At the sight of a delicious stir-fry, Crane's stomach gives a thunderous rumble, bringing a giggle out of Viper.

He chuckles along with her, not at all realising how hungry he must've been sleeping for so long. "Thanks." As their mirth dies down, she gives him a quick yet heartfelt peck on the cheek. More than ready to engorge his meal, the avian master takes a pair of chopsticks in his wing and prepares to dig in until he notices something… strange.

The noodles lose their shape, slowly melting into a grey sludge. Vegetables devolve into ash, burnt to the point of resembling charcoal rather than food. His nostrils can barely comprehend the hideous stench radiating off it. It had looked so delectable a mere moment ago. What happened to-

"Help me."

Snapping his head over to his serpent's hollow whisper, Crane gasps in horror at the sight of her. A pale, deathly white stares at him, her eyes completely devoid of their sky-blue irises. Lime green scales are now a bleached, lifeless version of their former vibrance. Her hanzi tattoos swirl into incomprehensible scribbles, resembling garish tendrils clutching tightly at her body. Before he can even say anything, she falls to the floor as her entire body twitches and trembles violently. He leaps off the bed and kneels next to her, desperately trying to figure out how to help her as she begins to sob and scream in fear. Crane's eyes dart around the room only to find nothing that can possibly aid her. Not even the source of her suffering appears to be nearby. Until…

"Crane!"

A familiar voice pierces through the window of his room, prompting the bird's immediate attention. Taking one last look at his petrified love, Crane crashes through his window at blinding speed only to be met with more horror as he arrives in the village streets. Civilians, masters, his own family all lie on the ground trembling uncontrollably, eyes all beacons of a constant unending terror. Buildings crumble around him, collapsing upon each other in heaps of rubble layered with ashen covered corpses.

Help me!

I can't fight it!

I can't hold on any longer!

Pleas bombard the avian master, pounding away at his mind as he starts to notice the wounds carved onto his comrades. Claw marks are scattered all over Shifu and Tigress, their bodies lathered in blood. Bruises coat Monkey and Mantis' flesh, their skin and carapace poisoned by hideous purple stains. The dragon warrior himself, however, has the most damage done with the aftermath of claws, swords and a guan do overpowering the black and white of his fur with a vile crimson river. How are they even alive?

A flood of blue light spills across the floor, immediately telling him who is responsible for this madness. Yellow irises meet dark blue, the white wolf standing at the end of the village road with his arms crossed and a demonic smile engraved onto his lips. As they make eye contact, Zhongcheng chuckles at the sight of the retired kung fu master. So weak, neutered by peace. He takes a few steps forward, prompting Crane into his fighting stance. But as he readies up, the wolf's figure shifts and bends, his glowing blue eyes vanishing alongside it. What replaces it only shocks him further.

Nuba walks in his place, her eyes devouring the village with their insidious amethyst sheen. Her chuckle soon turns into hysterical laughter. How? How is that possible? Before he can even comprehend this, her form changes again. Kai takes her place, the sickening clank of his jade blades forcing a shiver up Crane's spine as the putrid green glow of his eyes poisons the village. His deep, mocking laugh soon becomes whispery and manic as his grey fur transforms into pale white feathers. Scowling at the sight of Shen twirling his guan do in his wing, Crane flies towards him as his deadly red eyes morph into furious gold. He lets out a battle cry as the peacock's form becomes muscular and his feathers darken into silver, spotted fur. Tai Lung continues laughing at him until Crane reels back his leg and unleashes a devastating kick to the snow leopard's chest.

Boom!

A golden light ripples off Tai Lung's chest as he is sent backwards by the avian master's attack. To his surprise however, the faux dragon warrior isn't the only one sent flying. Shen, Kai, Nuba and Zhongcheng all split from his body, crashing to the floor but getting up unscathed. All five of his past enemies continue to laugh at the poor bird, already knowing that they have won. His scowl only deepens as he rushes towards them, dishing out kicks to all five of his mocking assailants. They stand right back up, unfazed. Crane readies himself again as they too take up their stances, their laughter never ceasing. Punches, kicks, and the empty swipes of weapons fly through the air, but Crane manages to weave his way around their offense. It doesn't take long for them to close in, but it takes even less time for him to parry their attacks and back away for space. However, more laughter reaches the bird's ears, prompting him to look towards one of the mounds of rubble taking place of a once peaceful village. Once again, he is left dumbfounded.

Su-Wu saunters her way towards him, wind-and-fire wheels clutched in her paws with a murderous intent. Before he can question this, her sisters emerge from the rubble and join her, manic laughter coming from them too.

Crash!

The remnants of a leftover wall are completely obliterated by yet another maniacal enemy. A large, grey water buffalo cracking his hooves in anticipation. Temutai, warrior king of the Qidan. He can barely even believe his eyes as several of the buffalo's followers march alongside him, merciless grins taking hold of their faces. A scream forces Crane's sight back to his friends, his heart shaking at the sight of their veins now visible through their skin, blackening from whatever is poisoning them. He doesn't have time yet… how can he stop all of them?

He turns his head back only to see even more adversaries than before. Fenghuang, Jiangshi, Taotie, the Lin kuei, even Boar. All enemies that he had only just managed to defeat. All laughing at him, mocking him for his failure. They charge towards him, forcing him into a stance as they throw whatever attacks they can in a blinding frenzy. They already know that he is completely outnumbered, hopelessly unmatched. He had never managed to defeat even one of them on his own. How can he possibly take them all on?

He can't.

No matter how many attacks he lands or evasive manoeuvres he attempts, this gigantic wave of enemies never ends. "Stop!" A hopeless squawk pushes itself out of his beak as he can already feel his body tiring from the endless battle. A kick, a slap of his wing, a redirection; They get back up all the same, completely unfazed. "Stop!" He can barely even hear himself over their overwhelming laughter, their attacks maiming and cutting into his body. Knocking down several of them with a spin kick, Crane takes this ever-so-brief break to reel his wings back. "Stop!"

Fwoosh!

A golden crescent slices through the air, blasting a huge chunk of enemies away with a colossal gust of wind as he flaps his wings forward. Yet his remaining opponents don't let up, quickly continuing the offensive as their comrades recover. He can't believe it.

They won't stop. No matter what he does, they just won't stop.

Another kick, another sweep of the legs. Another evade, another breath swiftly forced out by a punch to the gut.

They won't let up. This battle is never going to end.

Another parry, another block. Another slash to the chest taken with a scowl and a hiss.

Why? Why can't it all stop? Why won't it ever end?

Another kick, another sweep, another evade, another parry, another block, another slash, another breath. Another kick another sweep another evade another parry another block another slash another breath. His pupils shrink as more enemies continue to pile on. Another kick another sweep another evade another parry another block another slash another breath. Anotherkickanothersweepanotherevadeanotherparryanotherblockanotherslashanotherbreath. His yellow irises dissolve into a blank white canvas but he can only focus on yet another fight for him to win. Anotherkickanotherfightanotherevadeanotherfightanotherblockanotherfightanotherbreathanotherfight.

Another fight, another fight, another fight, another fight, another fight, another fight, another fight. Blank white bleeds into an insidious blue.

Another fight.

Another fight.

Another fight.

Another fight.

Another fight.

Zhongcheng closes his fist as the insidious shine in his eyes grow dimmer, a sickening grin clear on his face. Regardless of the flaming ceiling collapsing around him, the merciless wolf sets his eyes upon his latest puppet still pinned under the rubble. He stares upon the hollow blue eyes of the oh-so skilled master Crane. It appears those masters still have much to learn about the value of misdirection. Or the lack of value in honour.

As he chuckles upon this thought, the growing smoke rudely reminds him of its presence by punching him in the lungs, forcing a hefty cough out of him. Remembering their current situation, Zhongcheng takes his foot off Crane's chest before issuing his first command. "Rise, little bird." In spite of his wounds and aching appendages, the bird soldier hauls himself up without hesitation. Giving him a chance to shake the shards of wood and ash out of his feathers, the wolf commander looks out to the gargantuan hole left in the wall. "We still have plenty to recruit."

He raises his arm up as he hears Crane lift his talons off the ground, allowing him to grab hold of his arm as he flies out of the fiery remains of the tower's top floor. As Zhongcheng escapes with his new soldier, a single hoof finds its way out of the rubble, quaking as it searches for something, anything to pull them out. But after a few seconds, the hoof goes limp before another burning chunk of the ceiling crashes on top of it.

Oh no! Crane's under Zhongcheng's control, and he wants to get even more of them to be his soldiers! Yeah, as I've said, things are going to get worse before they get better. And yes, I did put a bunch of LOA characters into Crane's nightmare sequence. It only makes sense to do this here tbh. I feel like the LOA villain roster actually is quite good, if only they were used better... Oh well, may as well use a few here. Just to reiterate, the characters exist but not the same way as they are in LOA. I also hope I've communicated Crane's deepest fear fairly well. Do let me know what you think of the story so far, and I certainly hope you're ready for the next chapter! Hope you've enjoyed and until next time :)