Author's Notes: Wow, another chapter already huh? Yet again, this is one that came to me fairly quickly. Like one of those ones where you know how you want it so well that it just comes out almost perfectly. Anyways, we get a brief snapshot back with our dear villains and a few interesting things to chew on. Let's get into it!

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN KFP!

Enjoy.

Necessary Treachery

As China's heroes set off for their journey, the very cause of the emperor's distress leans over his desk, his dark blue eyes burning holes into the maps that lay on the wooden table. It has been bordering on the fifth day of his attempted conquest, and a sizeable portion of the imperial guard has now been taken back under his command. Yet, it has only been two days ago that the emperor had managed to sent word out to the valley of peace. There's no doubt that the message must've reached them now, now all that must be done is to wait for their arrival.

A delighted smirk deforms Zhongcheng's face as he gazes up towards the shoulder pauldron hung up on the wall, its crimson insignia gaining more of his attention. Soon, he'd have those meddling kung fu warriors in his grasp. Soon, he'll make that panda pay for ruining their conquest. He lets out a bitter scoff as he allows his mind to wander back nearly a year ago, back to the docks of Gongmen harbour.

Zhongcheng had remained at the fireworks factory with his own sparse squadron of wolves and gorillas, making sure to maintain order in Gongmen city as Shen set off to conquer the heart of China. These weren't orders from the peacock himself though, no, this command was of the wolf's own volition. Yes, they had the kung fu masters imprisoned and they had a mole inside the forbidden city, a fact he had only come to know of minutes before. But he knew well enough that victory could never be considered until all threats are either confirmed dead or a broken in such a way that they could never be of any trouble again. Then again, the dragon warrior had been obliterated by a cannon and his comrades' souls had been crushed by this loss, so perhaps he was just being paranoid.

Luckily, he wasn't there with a mindless group of thugs. Gongjiang had opted to stay behind too, insisting that he could make more cannons to divide between Gongmen and their upcoming stronghold in the forbidden city. Even with him though, the commander had found things had become rather tiresome really quickly. Out of sheer boredom, he had decided to head out on one of the factory's many balconies and watched as Shen's procession of ships sailed majestically across the city's waters.

He had to admit, as manic as that bird was, he certainly knew how to get results. If anything, he had some kind of morbid respect for him. So many years ago, he had been banished for trying to turn the tides of fate, and now he had the whole of China clutched in his talons. Now that certainly wasn't easy.

Amidst the insidious red hue of each ship's sails and the crimson lantern light that bled through the city streets, something peculiar had caught Zhongcheng's attention. An obtuse blur gliding across the rooftops. He rushed back into the fireworks factory to take a telescope from one of the desks, and then barged right back out onto the balcony, which gained the mild curiosity of his Bison lieutenant. The white wolf looked through this telescope, trying his hardest to keep track of this odd blur's movements until…

Impossible.

A panda? No, the dragon warrior? Here? That was simply impossible. He had been hit head on by a cannon, he should have died. Yet somehow, the panda had barely any noticeable scratches on him, hopping from roof to roof to stop Shen. "What's going on?" Zhongcheng's thoughts were soon interrupted by his trusted lieutenant. In response to his curious inquiry, the wolf merely handed him the telescope and waited… "But… The dragon warrior's here? That-That can't be right! There should be nothing left of him!"

"Just what I thought." Zhongcheng's deep voice stung the very air around him as he rumbled a corrosive growl.

"We have to warn them."

Just as Gongjiang attempted to move out to the others, the white wolf commander grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him against the wall. "Don't be dense. By the time we get down there, they'll already be undoubtedly aware of his presence. Not only that, but if we do go aid them ourselves, what difference would it make? He survived a direct hit from a cannon and had brought himself all the way back here himself. If our best tactic does nothing against him, then what hope do we have of besting him?"

Gongjiang mulled over his commander's words but couldn't find any flaws in them. Fighting a battle like that would be pointless, it would be utter madness. But knowing that deranged peacock, he wouldn't even think twice about wanting to kill that panda again. "So, you're suggesting we retreat?" He already knew the wolf's answer to this, and annoyingly it was simply the best course of action.

"Yes, I'm not going to be imprisoned thanks to the nerve of some stubborn buffoon and a psycho prince." He explained, irritation searing his timbre. "Get our men out of here and try to retrieve any cannons or ammunition, we can't risk them destroying it." Without a moment's hesitation, the bison saluted his commander and marched back inside to go through with his orders. Before he followed him however, Zhongcheng's ear twitched at the sound of several explosions off in the distance. More like funeral knells for a soon-to-be dead lord.

It was a great shame, yes, but a necessary sacrifice to make. After all, if he hadn't had the foresight of using Qipian's advantageous position then he would instead be rotting away in Gongmen prison or worse, executed.

"Feeling Nostalgic, are we?"

A mangled mix of politeness and mania reverberate around the room, its source seeming unidentifiable. But Zhongcheng knows better than that. He looks down from his shoulder pauldron to see the heinous figure of lord Shen sat in his chair, guan do by his right side. However, his usual deathly pale feathers are now a putrid black, flowing and shifting with even the slightest change of air. They can barely even be called feathers anymore, now resembling an ever-changing shadow. His crimson eyes that burrow directly into the wolf's soul glow with a sharpness akin to the knives hidden in his blackened feathers.

"That depends, are you?" Zhongcheng answers back, an almost mocking tone etched into his voice, as if he isn't staring down the remnants of a deceased maniac. A demented chuckle is given in response, the late peacock's voice sending chills into the very walls itself.

"Oh, I've relived plenty of awful memories, thank you. Although, you running away like a coward has certainly factored into one of my worst ones."

The wolf commander scoffs at his lord's bile-ridden response, a well of shame coursing through him. Not shame of abandoning the peacock, no. Though they have seen eye-to-eye on many things, he had always known that his paranoia would become a liability. Instead, it was the shame of having to retreat after inching so close to the ultimate victory. "It wasn't cowardice, my lord. I had to make a decision for the betterment of our cause-

"And leaving me to die was your best choice!?"

Shen's monstrous roar causes Zhongcheng to wince, his ears practically ringing at the avian lord's intense wrath. "It wasn't optimal, no. But if we would have any chance of succeeding in the long run, then our retreat was wholly necessary." Already knowing the peacock's next rebuttal, the wolf commander continues, "Besides, the panda had already bested your weapon. He had laughed in the face of your key to ruling China… What other option did we have?" He can barely see a face underneath the shadowy veil of his feathers, his only indication of emotion being his shining crimson eyes. Eyes which seem to finally relax a tad. Taking advantage of his lord's calmer demeanour, Zhongcheng explains, "Soon, I will have my chance to make those kung fu masters pay, and once it is all finished, China will truly belong to you, my lord." He bows in respect to the dark peacock across from him.

"And not to Qipian?"

Zhongcheng refuses the urge to laugh at that assumption, settling instead for a light smirk. "As deceptive as he is, I've made sure to remind him of just how much power I wield. He wouldn't dare cross me." Though his words are embedded with confidence, this lexical armour cracks at the hideous smile flashing in Shen's eyes.

"But the same cannot be said about the Wu-Sisters."

"Perhaps…" He thinks to himself for a brief moment, aware of the snow leopards' capabilities, their ability to betray him with ease. Yet one thing stands out, "But they have little reason to do so. I've promised them a 'generous' share of land to rule once China is ours, and…" A flash of him and Wan Wu pressed together punches into his mind, her body, her voice, her moans… Lust coats his eyes for a brief moment before he comes back to his senses, "I believe one of their own has fallen for me, in more ways than one." He adds in a cheeky murmur. Shen merely scoffs in revulsion.

"Well, good to see that you're well prepared, but make sure to watch your back. Traitors always strike when you're not expecting it."

With that, Shen's ghoulish apparition disappears in a blink of an eye, leaving Zhongcheng to think on his words. Of course, a paranoid madman would say that. But, he's far from wrong. A grimace strangles his features as he lets out a caustic growl, "Zhonglei…" Before this growl can turn into anything else, his office door is firmly struck open and a tied-up rhino is thrown into the centre. As he is about to question this turn of events, Wan Wu saunters into the room, her eyes beckoning to him with an all-too familiar salacious glint. Alone.

"Commander." The sultry voice of the leopard temptress bathes his ears, bringing a light grin to his face, carved with a salacious hunger. "Here's another one to add to your army." Her gait is dainty, yet inviting, the snow leopard's tail swishing in the air to further draw his… attention. "My sisters are still out gathering troops… I'll be in our room… All alone." She purses her lips in a faux pout, gaining a wider grin from her commander.

"I suppose you've earned a reward for your services…" His deep voice causes the awaiting leopard to purr, her pout turning into an eager smile. "I'll be with you in a few minutes." Wan Wu winks at the wolf commander before exiting his office. Dark blue eyes banish their lecherous glimmer as soon as they shift towards the rhino soldier, welcoming in a frightening blue glow instead. "Now, lets see if you last as long as your fellow brothers."

Oh my God, I may need to keep myself from writing these two in the same scene otherwise things will get M-rated real fast. All joking aside, this was a chapter I felt was a fairly long time in the making. I've planned out Zhongcheng's spot in Shen's plans for a while and found this to be the best (and most feasible) spot to put him in. Also, Shen... Interesting what's happened to him... Why is he now pitch black instead of pale white... Hmm... Anyways, I hope you've enjoyed yet another chapter that I've somehow found the time to write up, and feel free to lemme know how you feel about the story so far or if you've got any predictions and ideas for what will happen cuz I'm always intrigued to hear them (Plus it lets me know if I'm being too predictable.) Until next time :)