Author's Note: ... Hey there people! Been a while, huh? I've gotta apologise for taking so long, April has been a pretty hectic month for me. A lot of admin stuff going wrong (like schedules n shit), really busy at work, FFN emails being bugged out (again... smh). But don't worry, I'm back and next chapter will not take nearly as long... I hope. As for this chapter... A lot happens. And I mean A LOT! Let's just say that I hope it will have been worth the wait, because this was an absolute whopper to write. Anyways, you guys have waited enough, let's get on with it! Ooh, also, I'd suggest listening to this with "duel of the fates" if you want. Yeah, it gets pretty intense.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP!
Enjoy.
Fate's Unforgiving Hand
Kaboom!
Just as Gongjiang's cannon strike breaks up Po and Tigress' fight, Zhongcheng manages to dodge a sword lunge from the emperor. Grabbing the lion's wrist, he twists it to make him drop the sword and knocks him away with a shoulder bash before taking it in his own grasp. His victorious smirk only grows wider as his sword clashes with Zhonglei's, the deafening explosion that had pierced into the throne room assuring his advantage. At seeing his old comrade's expression, the Zhanshi chief's scowl only deepens on his face. It doesn't matter if he has the upper hand, he won't let him win.
Their swords clash again and again, the former brothers trying their hardest to find a weakness in the other's form to no avail. They've both gotten better. Yet, this doesn't faze Zhongcheng. After all, skills and rationale are often faltered by emotions, by fear. And he had seen that damn tiger's fears first-hand. "Where has all your strength gone, old friend? Where is the tenacious general that had fought by my side? Have you taken an example from Renci and rely solely on the dragon warrior?" Zhonglei doesn't reply, immediately aware of his tactics. He lunges and slices his sword at him, but the commander parries without issue, "Do you believe he can save your home? The emperor? Your niece?" Renci's footsteps beat into both their ears as the wolf pushes Zhonglei back before turning to face the lion. He dodges his wild punch and slices his sword at his side, managing to cut into his skin just under his armour before following up with a spin kick to his head.
"Renci!" Zhonglei calls out before sprinting at his former brother with his sword raised.
Their swords clash again only for Zhongcheng to twist their crossed blades around and thrust it out of the golden tiger's paw. In retaliation, Zhonglei disarms him with a kick to his paw and follows up with a double punch to his chest that is caught easily by the wolf. "You and I both know that he will die before any real harm can come to her, so what will you do if he fails?" The golden tiger tries to rip his fists out of his grasp only for the vile wolf to dig his claws into his skin, making him snarl in an attempt to hide the pain, "Don't tell me that you'll try to break her free too? You weren't able to escape your own mind without his help, and yet here you stand, deluded into thinking you have a chance of stopping me."
"Shut up!" A sickening growl rips its way out of Zhonglei's throat as he kicks his side, yet Zhongcheng's grip doesn't loosen. He aims a front kick at his chest, but before it can connect, a bright, sickly blue light flashes from the wolf's eyes. A mental command that acts as a flashbang, blinding Zhonglei mid-attack. Though his kick still hits the wolf, he takes it with ease before kneeing the tiger in the gut and letting go of his paws. With uncertain, alert snarls burning from his maw, Zhonglei throws his fists up wildly which allows Zhongcheng to step back and charge his fear-ridden chi into his right leg.
Bam!
A blue shockwave explodes from the Zhanshi chief's face as he is sent careening towards the throne room's side wall by a brutal leaping kick. His body slams against the wall as Renci gets back up on his feet, weakened yet ignoring the crimson leaking from his side in a desperate charge towards the dreaded wolf.
Kaboom!
Zhonglei's ears flicker at the deep, earth-shattering explosion of one of Zhongcheng's cannons, sending his mind into a fear-ridden panic as his eyes remain in a pitch-black void. Despite his impaired vision, he runs away from the wall, or at least he hopes he has. Yet whilst this happens, the emperor pay attention to the cannon's powerful shot, nor does he acknowledge his vulnerable friend. Instead, he aims enraged punch after wrathful kick at Zhongcheng, any semblance of technique thrown away in a vain attempt to get a hit in only for each attack to be blocked and countered with little effort. At this rate, he won't last long. Not with how powerful the commander's counter strikes are.
Boom!
The cannonball that Zhonglei had heard crashes into the wall behind him, engulfing the area in a cloud of fire as the explosion knocks him away. Golden irises snap over to the massive explosion, horrified at the power of his enemy's weapons and beyond worried for his friend. But Zhongcheng doesn't let this worry fester for long, dazing Renci with a brutal elbow to the temple and knocking him to the floor with a knee to his face. For a split-second, dark blue eyes dart to the golden tiger, noting how lucky he is that the cannon's shockwave dazed him rather than killed him. No matter, he will be dealt with in a moment.
He switches his attention back to the emperor as he lies on the floor in a dizzy heap, reaching his arm out in a futile attempt to stop him. Zhongcheng straddles him before punching the poor lion in the face, "Don't you see now how pointless this all was?" Renci's vision begins to blur as the dreaded wolf slams another fist onto his face, "How powerless you both are without those masters to help you!?" Another fist, another pang of pain that begins to numb the lion's mind, "China will never prosper with such weakness!" Another punch, another attempt from his mind to lull him to unconsciousness, but the emperor remains awake no matter how agonising the beating is. "There is no place for worthless cowards like you! Not in my empire!" Zhongcheng rains hell down upon Renci's face, a feverish growl slipping out of his throat as droplets of blood fly onto his face. He can feel parts of his victim's skull begin to crack under his knuckles, his victory close at hand. His eyes become so fixated on his barrage, his ears so tuned to the sound of his fists beating into the emperor that he doesn't hear the doors get thrown open behind him nor the sound of Po's enraged footsteps pounding the floor.
Bam!
Zhongcheng is sent flying straight at the emperor's throne as Po lands a brutal kick to his back. He crashes into the golden symbol of Renci's power back-first, making it tip over and fall to the floor as the wolf is left dazed. "D-dragon warrior…" A weakened wheeze attracts the panda master's sight, his jade eyes noticeably disturbed by the deep bruises beaten into the emperor's face and the blood drowning him. One of his eyes are swollen shut, his golden irises eclipsed by his pulsating purple eyelid whilst his nose looks to the left, punched out of place.
He should've stayed back. Though he feels horrible for the poor lion, another ireful thought takes precedence over his sympathy. His paw hovers over the regal lion's face, glowing a soft golden light as he heals as much of his injuries as he can. Within seconds the swelling goes down, his wounds close up and the bleeding stops. But even still, his nose remains broken, the pain he endured persists. He can't give too much of his chi, not when Zhongcheng could attack at any-
A rush of air bashes against Po's fur, a whisper from the universe graces his ears. He looks up to see the emperor's throne shooting straight at him, his quick reflexes allowing him to catch it and throw it to the side, the demented smile of that damned wolf greeting him as he does so. "Renci." His ear twitches at the sound of Zhonglei's voice, the general having finally recovered from his lucky brush with death. Po doesn't look as he assesses the damage dealt to Renci; his jade irises fixed on the horrid wolf that had done all of this. That has made so many people suffer. That had reduced his friends to petrified puppets. A putrid scowl forms on his face, making Zhongcheng smile wider. Noticing the dark expression consuming his countenance, Zhonglei begins to fear the worst. "Where is Tigress? Is she safe?"
"She's fine." A hopeful lie, but he can't risk the golden tiger's reaction if he says the truth. They have on priority above all else. "Get him out of here." Po growls, sending shivers up both Renci and Zhonglei's spines at the depth of his grizzly tone, the hate embedded in his soul. The Zhanshi chief obeys without hesitation, picking up his friend before leaping out the hole Gongjiang blew in the wall. Zhongcheng folds his arms as his adversary gets into his stance, not an ounce of excitement or thrill evident in his body. A far cry from the dragon warrior he had heard so much about.
"What? No jokes? No quips? No bombastic taunts?" Po doesn't answer, his glare bellowing a deadly threat. A threat that the commander understands immediately. "Have I had that much of an effect on you?"
His sadistic smile makes the dragon warrior's blood turn to magma, haunted by the despair that had been embedded on Tigress' face… despair that he had caused. "It's over, Zhongcheng." Not a trace of heroism, not even a measure of warmth is present in his timbre.
"Really?" This gains a curious eye from Zhongcheng, "Don't I deserve a second chance? A new lease on life?" Curiosity soon morphs into mockery, poking and prodding further at the wrathful panda's patience. "Don't I deserve… mercy?"
"No." There is no hesitation in the dragon warrior's response, no second thoughts. "Not you." No second chances left to give.
Once again, curiosity forms in Zhongcheng's dark eyes, yet this time it is genuine. "Hm. Interesting how you offered a caring hand to Shen and Nuba, especially considering what they had done, yet with me… it seems like you want me dead."
"They regretted what they did. They wanted things to be different."
The commander immediately picks up how he had ignored his last statement, but he doesn't need him to say it. His glare tells him everything. This isn't merely for justice, honour, or to save a few precious lives. It has become far more personal. Zhongcheng's teeth show in his wicked grin, yet Po can't decipher exactly why. "Did he now? I spoke to Shen myself, you know, and all he wanted was to see you die."
A disbelieving scoff tempts Po, but he pushes it down, refusing to let down his guard for even a moment. "So, you're heartless and insane. Shen's dead."
"Yes, but his spirit lives on. Entrusting me with his legacy," Somehow, Zhongcheng's grin only grows wider, managing to unnerve Po as he takes up his stance. "Entrusting me with your demise." His voice brims with victory, bathing in an arrogance that begs to be put in its place.
"Once I'm done with you, you can tell him how much you failed in person."
A brief yet catastrophic shiver ripples through Zhongcheng's body as the dragon warrior's voice strikes colder than ice, sharper than any dagger. This isn't an act, nor is it a simple outburst. Something has changed. Making his words less of a threat and more of a lethal promise. He disregards this shiver, denying the emotion he knows lingers within. "We shall see, panda."
Kaboom!
Another cannon fires among many, signalling both Po and Zhongcheng to charge at each other. They clash, exchanging blows in an effort to best the other, but neither of them allows their guard to be broken. Their furious stalemate doesn't remain that way for long as a cannonball soars through the air, aimed at the phoenix atop the emperor's tower.
Boom!
Tremors erupt throughout the throne room, making the dragon warrior lose his balance long enough for his foe to catch him with a knee to the stomach. Though he grimaces in pain, he doesn't let the wolf continue his offensive, catching his wrist before he could attempt to tap into his mind. He counters with an uppercut to his chin and rolls him over his back to throw him to the floor. His claws unsheathed, Zhongcheng slashes at his foe only for Po to brush off the gash he embeds into his leg and brings his foot down in a stomp on the commander's chest.
Zhongcheng coughs out in a wheeze, the wind knocked out of him as he punches the leg that holds him in place. Ready to take his chance, Po charges his fear-ridden chi into his paw until his ears catch the rattling of chains. Jade irises gaze up at the chandelier above the both of them, hanging for dear life as it swings from the ceiling, the explosion from earlier having weakened its ancient, weary chains. Upon noticing this however, he leaves himself open for a brief moment. A moment the commander capitalises on with a punch to his groin. Another cheap shot that crumples the panda master's offense, allowing him to kick him off. Though he manages to roll back up to his feet, he doesn't notice his enemy reach underneath his armour. The dragon warrior attempts a palm strike only for Zhongcheng to dodge it and close his eyes before thrusting his paw forward, a smoke bomb clutched tightly in his grasp.
It explodes in his face, leaving the panda master blind, deaf, and choking on the thick cloud of smoke surrounding him. Zhongcheng smirks under his breath, charging chi into his paw until-
Clang!
The chain holding the chandelier breaks, immediately gaining Zhongcheng's attention as he rolls away from the descending decoration. His senses impaired, Po is left unaware of this as he tries to wave away the smoke. All he can hear is a light, ancient whisper amidst the ringing in his ears, screaming at him to get out of the way.
Crash!
Veils of marble and chunks of golden decoration are kicked up by the extravagant chandelier smashing the floor, expelling the cloud of smoke Po was trapped in to reveal said panda, unscathed. A sight that forces a snarl out of the demented wolf. That was his last smoke bomb.
"It's gonna take *cough cough* A lot more *cough* than that to *wheeze*." Po's attempt at an epic comeback is foiled by the remnants of smoke toying with his lungs, "*Cough cough cough* To count me out." Finally finished, he clears his throat as his vision clears, the panda wiping involuntary tears from his previously blinded eyes.
The commander scoffs, both irritated and impressed at his foe's persistence as he takes up his stance. Charging forward, Po's eyes glow blue whilst Zhongcheng's does the same, waiting for his ferocious offense once again.
Explosions litter the battlefield, leaving torrents of bodies charred and ashen in the craters beaten into the ground. Panic and fear settle in on friend and foe alike, terrified of the apocalyptic weapons that have been unleashed on the battlefield. Tianshi's eyes scan the vantage points whilst staying mobile, her emerald irises doubling in size as she counts 30 cannons. Some on top of extravagant towers and others concealed within the windows of said buildings.
Kaboom!
Yet another cannon fires among the manic frenzy aimed at the combined Zhanshi and imperial forces. However, the cannon ball soars high above them, absolutely obliterating the phoenix perched atop the emperor's magnificent tower. As it descends upon the palace's court in flaming chunks, deformed into a molten metal monstrosity, the tiger chiefess switches her attention back to the cannons firing away. Trying to take them down without equal firepower, without the masters' help, would be suicide. But she can't just sit here and let this place be turned into a scorched graveyard. "Archers! Focus fire on the men manning those cannons!" The archers that have managed to survive the initial bombardment on the gates follow these orders without hesitation, but she knows they won't be able to reach the cannon in the city square or the buildings that dare to meet the emperor's tower eye-to-eye. Tianshi's eyes meet the gaze of ten nearby tiger soldiers, all wearing expectant expressions that hunger for a fight. "You four will come with me to the cannons on the east, the rest of you will go to the west! We will converge in the centre and destroy the cannon in the square! Is that understood!?"
They all salute to their chiefess, all of them ready to avenge their brothers and sisters that have fallen to those abominations, "Yes, ma'am!" With this affirmation, Tianshi and her men charge forward, taking out any soldier that gets in their way as they sprint over the demolished carcass of the palace's gates. They split up, dodging cannon fire as a single harrowing realisation fills Tianshi's mind, her eyes picking up on both hers and Zhongcheng's slowly dwindling forces. If they don't take out those cannons soon, if they don't win this…
Then the Zhanshi clan may truly die this day. No. She can't let that happen.
Crash!
Shards of wood explode from the door leading into the throne room's hallway as Shifu's hurtling body flies out from the other side. Rolling on his side, he manages to get back on his feet as his brainwashed daughter leaps through the crater left in the door. He doesn't let the monster puppeteering her land, instead meeting it in the air with a vicious kick to the face.
Kaboom!
Another booming shot of the city square's cannon pierces through the tower's wooden walls as the monster lands on its paws and feet. With a snarl, it dodges to the side as the grandmaster slams down with his staff, countering with a side kick that he manages to catch with his free paw. Pushing its leg away to stifle the monster's balance, Shifu reels his index and middle fingers away and goes to thrust them at its torso. But the monster is one step ahead, following through the momentum of his parry and countering with a back-facing kick.
This sends Shifu onto the floor back-first, his eyes widening at the sight of Tigress' monstrous form rushing at him and aiming its claws at his face. He rolls to the side and pushes her back with a forward thrust of his staff, giving him enough space to read and block her ravenous attacks.
With each attack Nuba blocks, the monster's blood burns hotter, rivers of lava forming in its hollow, infected eye. Its claw swipes grow in number, it picks up in speed, its growls and snarls drown out the roaring fire that surrounds it. It doesn't hear Tigress struggling with the iron door, nor does it hear her pleas to stop or to set her free. They had been tricked into facing another tragedy, into experiencing devastation once again. Zhongcheng and Nuba will pay for what they did to their family. They will pay for what they did to Tigress. "Stop!" Tigress slams into the iron door holding her prisoner with her shoulder. Clang! "It's one of Zhongcheng's tricks!" Bam! Desperate punches and kicks are doled out to the door, the dents forming in the door growing larger with each of Tigress' attacks, "She isn't real!" Wham! She hits the door once more with a double palm strike, making the rubble around her tremble under her fearsome strength, reducing the hinges of the door to quivering wardens. A spark of hope fills Tigress' heart as she watches the battle taking place a fair distance from her. The battle between her father and her monster. She has to get out of here, before it can tear him apart.
Shifu remains on the defensive, using his staff to block and deflect its deadly claws. Caustic growls rip into his ears as the strength and speed of the monster only increases, making his arm begins to quake in response. "You ruined our life!" A frenzied, wronged roar bursts out of the monster, catching him off-guard and allowing his cheek to be grazed by its claws. Following up with a kick to his torso, the beastly tiger continues to condemn its tormentor, "You made her suffer so much, made her cold!" Steely blue wilt at its damning curse, certain that this is meant for him despite knowing the monster can't see him. Or can it? His mind brings involuntary memories of times where he had dismissed her accomplishments, reprimanded her after a mission's end, corrected her rather than reciprocating her care. Her love. "We were left alone and unloved! Without a family that truly cared! All because of you!" Flashes of that smile she shared with the five when she first met them are followed by countless times when she was silent, alone, and stone-faced. The five afraid to aggravate her.
They all failed her. No, him most of all.
With this final, barbarous roar, the monster charges forward only for Tigress' father to roll out of the way and counter with a leaping kick. He can't dwell on his mistakes anymore, not when he still has the chance to fix them. More memories flood his mind, more recent and filled with the wide smile that she had hidden away for so long. He could recall how cheerful she was at the winter festival, the joy in her eyes when they had played with her domino set mere days ago… the forgiveness she had shown before she left to fight Nuba. I have never stopped loving you, baba. And that will never change. Her voice was devoid of resentment, disregarding any that might have been present in her heart. Thankful for him despite all his failings. He can't let this chance slip away; he can't lose her like he did Tai Lung. The monster gets back on its feet and charges forward again, raising both its paws upward and slashing downward only for Shifu to block its claws with his staff. "Tigress! Remember what I taught you! Your strength, your power is not your nature! This monster isn't you!" He struggles against the barbarous tiger's ghastly might as he pleads to his trapped daughter, praying that she can somehow hear him.
Kaboom!
Both combatants ignore the thunderous explosion of the city square's cannon as Shifu twists his staff to the left, redirecting the monster's momentum and forcing it to stagger. Seeing his opportunity, he readies his right paw and aims both his fingers at its torso. However, it manages to catch his paw before his nerve attack can connect, digging its claws into his wrist as it kicks away his staff and buries the claws on its free paw into his side. A hiss of pain escapes the grandmaster, but he isn't allowed to dwell on it for long, the monster raising him up in the air before slamming him onto the floor back-first with a vicious roar. Chunks of stone and marble fly into the air but this doesn't distract the beast as it aims its bloodied teeth at his throat. Ready for its savage attack, Shifu charges chi into his right paw and lands a palm thrust on its chest. A flash of golden light throws the monster backwards, sending it through the doors leading back to the staircase once again with a loud crash. It recovers quickly, ready to leap at him once again on all-fours, yet this isn't what catches Shifu's eye. This isn't what makes his face fall in horror.
It's the cannonball he sees through the broken door, flying through the hole in the wall just behind it. He is just about to yell out a warning only for the beast to be one step ahead, hearing the deadly fire radiating off the metal death ball and leaping out of the way seconds before it can hit it.
Boom!
A massive cloud of fire consumes the area where the door once stood, the shockwave of the explosion sending the grandmaster rolling backwards along the floor. Though his ears are completely engulfed by a horrific ringing and his vision is shaken, only one thing is on his mind. "Tigress!" Fear puppeteers his voice as he beckons for his daughter, the thick cloud of fire completely concealing the stairwell. Forcing himself back on his feet, Shifu's ears recover enough to hear a demonic roar silence the deafening flames of the fiery veil. Before long, the monster's body bursts through the flames, its golden qipao completely set ablaze and its claws using the fire as its own deadly weapon. Tigress' father sees the barbaric fury consuming its single, hollow eye. Tai lung's form flashes in his eyes, the blue flames filling his claws and the murderous expression paved over his face coming back to haunt him.
Not again.
Banishing away the phantom of his late son, he leaps to the side, narrowly dodging the monster's flaming claws as it lands right where he once stood. He picks up his staff from the floor as it pounces on him again, blocking its fiery claw slash before it can tear set him alight too. A menacing snarl bellows out of its mouth, the fire engulfing its body morphing its savage expression into a hellish monstrosity. A sight that he had never hoped to see on his poor daughter. Soon enough, the fire lighting up its claws races onto his staff, making a row of flames dance along the ancient wood. Knowing he won't last long at this rate, Shifu channels chi into his good leg and stomps onto the floor, making it tremor enough to force the ravenous tiger off-balance. This gives him the chance to wrestle his staff out of its fiery paws, land two spinning staff swings on its face and knock it backwards with a leaping kick to the stomach.
Immediately, the brainwashed tiger recovers, rolling back onto all-fours the moment it hits the ground. Before it can attack again, the grandmaster thrusts his palm forwards, ushering forth a powerful gust of wind that extinguishes both his staff and the flames consuming its qipao in an instant. Steely blue irises stare at the once golden silk that had made up Tigress' qipao, now a scorched mess with the lily pattern that had wound around its surface reduced to ash. Its sleeves lie in ruin, now a useless heap of burnt and fragmented fabric flapping about, a fact that even the beast acknowledges as it tears these heaps of fabric off its arms with an enraged growl. As it gets onto all-fours again, Shifu heaves out a heavy breath, feeling the pangs of exhaustion creep up on him as thin rivers of blood roll down his side. How much longer can he last? Though he wants to ignore it, this question won't leave his mind as he gets into his own stance; praying he will last long enough to see her free again.
Wolves and gorillas fall to the wayside as Tianshi charges forward, her squadron of tigers keeping their shields up in formation. Blood litters the ruined grounds of the forbidden city, accentuated by fallen shields, broken weapons and their own arrows wedged into the road. Yet no matter the level of destruction, more of Zhongcheng's combined forces stand in their way, meeting their demise within mere seconds. Building after building zips past them, their ears bombarded by the deafening cannon fire around. It doesn't take them long to reach the edge of the east side and break in to the first of the many cannon-infested vantage points they have commandeered.
Within moments of breaking the door down, they are greeted by an armoured gorilla, who is quickly dispatched by a powerful shield bash and Tianshi's guan dao thrusted straight at his head. As he falls to the floor, Tianshi's tiger squadron wait for some kind of alarm to be sounded or for another soldier to try and stop them. Alas, no-one even attempts it. Perhaps their entry had been masked by the sounds of their own booming cannons. Regardless of the reason, a silent sigh of relief fills the squadron as Tianshi gazes upwards. A pedestrian building with four floors, meaning a cannon on each of the upper floors and one on the roof. No hostages, no leverage they can use against them. She'll have to thank Zhonglei for evacuating everyone by boat last night. With her plan already set in motion, she taps her men on the shoulder. "One pair takes the first floor, another takes the second, I'll handle the third and we all converge on the roof."
"Yes ma'am." They salute to her, following her lead up the stairs as they split up between the three floors. A dangerous tactic considering their weapons, but they wouldn't dare use it now, unless they want to take the entire building down and the cannons along with it. Tianshi can only hope that the damned wolf hasn't instilled such deranged tactics into his men. As she reaches the third floor and rushes to the room facing the palace, she breaks the door open with a shield bash whilst her soldiers do the same on the other floors.
Catching the four wolves inside by surprise, she doesn't spare them a moment to pry her advantage from her, impaling the wolf farthest from the cannon with her guan dao. Before his comrade next to him can pull out his sword, Tianshi rips her weapon out of the previous wolf's chest and spins it around, slashing his throat. With both their canine brothers taken down, the two wolves by the cannon leap over to her with swords in paw. The three of them manoeuvre around the overturned furniture of the residential room, with Tianshi blocking one sword slash with her shield and parrying the other with her guan dao. She pushes one away with her shield and kicks him to the floor, focusing on the other wolf who attempts a sideways slash with his sword. His swing is slow, imprecise, allowing her to duck under it and stab him in the side. Her blade is swift, slicing the wolf's head clean off as quickly as it had dislodged itself from his side. Emerald eyes shift to the remaining wolf soldier that hauls himself off the floor and charges forward. Putting all his strength into his downward swing, the wolf is easily blocked by her shield, leaving him vulnerable to a flurry of stabs into his chest. Specks of blood fly out of him, the poor soldier falling to the floor after the seventh stab to his torso. Though he is downed, Tianshi refuses to take any chances, plunging her guan dao deep into his chest to ensure his demise.
Her immediate threats neutralised, Tianshi sets her sights on the cannon aimed directly at a clump of her own troops. Emerald irises gain a wrathful distinction as two cannons are rammed out of the lower floors, crashing into a colossal heap at the foot of a six-story business building, housing more of Zhongcheng's weapons. Four to be exact. With a snarl of retribution, Tianshi unsheathes her claws and lights the fuse of her loaded cannon before landing a powerful double kick to its cascabel. It demolishes the wall leading out and hurtles onto the rest of its battered brethren, its muzzle pointed downwards as the fuse trickles away.
Kaboom!
It fires, unleashing an explosion that consumes the first three floors of the neighbouring building, the ammunition loaded in the other cannons adding fuel to the hungry cloud of fire. Tianshi's eyes widen at the sheer size of the explosion, unaware that this destructive feat has not seen its conclusion.
Boom!
Mere seconds after the blast, another one follows on the third floor.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Then another on the fourth, then another. Explosions fly up the building's floors until it reaches the very roof. In a monstrous torrent of fire, the entire six-story complex, Zhongcheng's men and all the cannons inside it are obliterated. Only a pillar of hellfire remains, leaving Tianshi and her squadron completely speechless at the horrifying sight as they meet her on the third floor.
"What the hell was that!?"
Their shocked silence is soon dashed away at a bamboozled shout just above them, the soldiers from the roof taking notice. How could they not? Needing only a single nod from their chiefess, the tiger squadron split up, two of them leaping out the hole in the wall and climbing up to the roof with Tianshi whilst the other two climb up on the opposite wall. Tianshi and her pair make it up first, identifying a brainwashed rhino and ox, a gorilla wielding a battle axe and two wolves, one of them near the edge of the roof. "What the-?
Shink!
His confused exclamation is cut short as Tianshi's guan dao cleaves his chest, her fellow tiger soldiers running forth to combat the rest of their troops. "Stop them!" Both of their hollow-eyed soldiers attack the pair of tiger soldiers running forward whilst their chiefess leaps over them, focusing her sights on the gorilla commanding them. The remaining wolf chooses to stay back, opting to keep firing upon the palace with the cannon, only to be intercepted by the other pair of tiger soldiers who end him with a combined slash of their swords. Struggling against the power of the gorilla leader's axe, Tianshi is forced to keep her shield up, unable to attack. Lucky for her however, is attention is entirely fixed upon her, leaving him open to the two tigers just behind him. They sprint over and slash at his sides, engraving two deep gashes into his body that saps his strength. Seeing her opening, the Zhanshi chiefess pierces her guan dao through the gorilla's torso, killing him instantly.
Bam! Wham!
Both the rhino and ox slump onto the floor, knocked out by her other pair of tiger soldiers. "Good work, men." Emerald eyes dart over to the cannon, gaining an idea as she sees one of the taller towers in the centre of the city. Eight floors stashing who knows how many cannons. "Aim at that tower, now!" All five of her soldiers get to work within an instant, groans and laboured grunts exiting their lips as they lift and turn the cannon around. Tianshi picks up one of the cannon balls in her paw, grimacing at its destructive capabilities as she runs up to the muzzle. They drop the cannon onto the roof with a heavy thud, allowing her to load the cannonball in before adjusting it to aim at the lower floors of the tower. They can rebuild its foundation later. "Light it up!" One of the white tigers in her squadron unsheathes his claws and strikes it against the cannon's metal surface, its sparks setting the fuse alight in seconds.
Kaboom!
Orange irises focus solely on emperor's tower, the bison completely ignoring the boom of the east side cannons in favour of staying alert for his brother's next command. Besides, that pillar of fire may have been a malfunction or one of their soldiers dropping a cannonball from the roof. A possibility that is soon overridden at the sight of a cannonball hurtling right at one of their best vantage points.
Boom!
Before Gongjiang's very eyes, a fiery explosion envelopes the second and third floors of the tower, forcing the upper floors to crumble at its loss of support before succumbing completely. Within a matter of moments, the entire tower collapses in on itself, rendering their cannons and soldiers to nothing as a massive explosion takes place of where the tower used to be. Outraged, he pulls out a telescope and tracks where the shot came from, only to see Tianshi and a group of tigers adjusting a cannon to fire elsewhere. There were six cannons in that tower, and they are now gone because of Zhonglei's meddling wife. He throws his telescope to the floor and spins the cannon to face them with one moment, lighting the fuse with a fearsome scowl on his face.
Kaboom!
Tianshi's head darts to the side as her men aim the cannon at the three-story inn ahead, armed with two metal monstrosities. Horror forces her emerald irises to consume her eyes as the cannonball Gongjiang just fired hurtles towards them. "Cannonball incoming!" Without needing another word, her tiger squadron leap off the building with two of them taking the brainwashed soldiers in their arms as they do so. She follows on, slashing her claws against the loaded cannon before jumping off just before the cannonball hits.
As they all land separately, emerald eyes gaze up at the roof with a twinge of relief as the cannon fires just before Gongjiang's cannonball obliterates it entirely. However, this relief is soon dashed aside as their cannonball manages to miss the inn's rooftop by mere inches. A fact that doesn't escape the gorilla lieutenants stationed above. As her squadron regroups with each other, leaving their brainwashed comrades in a safe place, their eyes meet with the soldiers commandeering the inn, a sadistic smile filling the expression of their lead gorilla lieutenant. "Focus fire on the cats below!"
"Scatter! We re-convene at the inn!" All five tigers split up as their enemy aims one of their cannons towards them, the Zhanshi chiefess noting the massive explosion coming from the west side out of the corner of her eye. Another vantage point dismantled, another step to finishing this battle. From what she could see earlier, only four buildings remain filled with cannons. She can only hope that they take them down before they can deal any lasting damage, assuming they haven't already.
"Crane, please! It's me!" As the battle rages on, Viper pleads to her bird whilst dodging another swipe of his talons, his eyes still infected by Zhongcheng's influence. Yet, in spite of them being hollow, she can see a trace of her confident her confident Crane that cares about her so much.
She jumps up and spins around, feigning a tail swipe that he falls for. Attempting to parry her, he brings his right wing forward only for the serpent master to coil herself around his wing and flip him onto the other side. He recovers quickly, with a swift back kick that brings Viper's offensive to a halt. Readying herself, she manages to dodge his leaping kick only to be caught off-guard as the same leg he kicked with slams down in a vicious stomp. A sharp gasp of pain punches itself out of her lungs as his talons dig into the tip of her tail. "You're gonna pay for what you did to them!" She grits her teeth as her bird threatens his enemy, his right foot stained by flowing rivers of blood. "Our life was finally perfect, and you took that away!" Sky-blue eyes widen at the snarl that plagues Crane's voice, broken by his dismantled dream. Deformed by that damned wolf. Desperate for a way out of his grasp, she tries to headbutt him only for Crane to dodge and slash at her side with his talons.
"Aaaagh!" Viper's high-pitched scream barrels into Crane's ears, leading his blue sclera to where Zhongcheng had released her. By their torn and decrepit home. To think, he had been so close to leaving it all behind. To break those shackles of responsibility. To live a life of peace. Now, it all lies in ruin. His family lies beaten and broken. Viper convulses on the floor, her eyes shining with a hollow blue light. They all suffered because he thought he could escape the call of a warrior. That he could run from the inevitable. He shifts his gaze to the wretched wolf he has brought to the floor, a wicked, disgusting grin settling on his lips as his eyes glow. A deep scowl forms on Crane's features upon seeing his glowing arm outstretched, happily torturing his love like he did so long ago. Without warning, Crane raises his free foot up and grabs him by the throat, squeezing tightly as Zhongcheng begins to choke.
Hearing his sister's tormented scream, Mantis forces his brainwashed buddy back with a thrust of his claws and raises his indestructible shield. "Viper!" Unfortunately, this isn't enough to deter Monkey's offensive as he rushes forward and lands a low sweep before the insect master can free her. As he gets up, the brainwashed simian hits him with a shield bash that sends his head spinning and flings his body across the room, leaving Viper with no way of escape. All she can do is hope that her precious bird can somehow hear her.
Something in Crane's head screams that something isn't right. They did beat Zhongcheng before, right? So, why can't he remember how they've beaten him? Why would he torture Viper rather than try to push him off? Why can't he remember Viper agreeing to his proposal? I… I need time… to think about all this, to know… what I want to do… Why is that the only 'answer' he remembers? "Crane." Her voice snaps him out of his trance only to have him revel in horror as he looks down. Viper lies underneath him, her side bleeding from a deep gash pierced into it. Suffocating from his vengeful grip. "Please… come back to me." Her whisper limps across her weak voice, stained by the tears rolling down her face.
"V-Viper?" Crane's voice cracks, a freezing chill shooting through his body and making his blood run cold. His head snaps to the broken-down house, her body no longer there. What is going on? This can't be right. Looking back at her, the damned wolf flashes in her place only to be overpowered by her mourning eyes, begging for her Crane to return to her. "What is…?" His hollow sclera gaze at her side again, a shiver crawling up his spine as the pieces begin to fit into place.
Dazed and anxious, Mantis tries his best to fight off his simian friend, but Monkey is too fast, slamming his shield onto his enemy with its side aiming to cut him in two. Though he manages to halt it with his claws and legs, his exhaustion prevents him from overwhelming him with his own strength, leaving them in a stalemate. "Monkey! Stop!"
Crane's hollow blue sclera widen at the sound of Mantis' voice, his grip on Viper's throat loosening as he darts his head to the left. Two shadows struggle against each other, trying to overpower the other in vain. Two shadows cast by Mantis and Monkey's limp bodies. But how could that happen? How could he hear Mantis? How could Viper suddenly appear in his grasp? As these questions plague his mind, his irises slowly begin to form back onto the blue veil of his sclera. How could he not remember all the events leading to this? How could he not remember beating Zhongcheng? As he gazes back at Viper, he rips his foot away from her, his pupils finally reappearing on his eyes. The answer lying before him. They never did. Zhongcheng tricked him. This dream turned nightmare, this never-ending fight, none of this is real. Yet, what he did was real. All because of his cowardice, his fears. With only a few seconds more, he could've destroyed any chance of gaining that peaceful life he so desperately wishes for.
"Crane… you have to fight it." Viper's gentle voice caresses his ears, his heart aching at how weak she sounds. How hurt her timbre is. Because of him. "Please… fight it." Hs eyes root their gaze into the floor, too ashamed to look her in the eyes. Her tear-ridden eyes. How could he be so stupid, so afraid? So desperate to run from the fight when it simply isn't possible. "Fight for me…" Her voice's melody falls out of tune, maintaining the timbre of a broken instrument. Yet, it is in her plea that Crane is able to pave his way through his despair. A warrior's battle never truly ends, their duty never dies. But this battle isn't simply to protect others or themselves, it isn't to prove their skills or to obtain power that is absolute. Happiness doesn't simply pop out of nowhere, rarely is it ever gifted to anyone. It can't be found through running away, nor can it be bought or stolen. True peace and happiness must be fought for. Determination begins to fill his eyes as a bright white light shines from their house, beaming throughout the village and banishing the contorted shadows of his family. He turns to face this light as his yellow irises fade back in, shooing away the hollow blue that had once infected his mind. "For us…" Crane's heart makes a promise to both himself and Viper, one that makes the white light grow brighter and brighter. He won't run away anymore. He won't cower in fear of the inevitable. He will fight with everything he has. For their happiness. For their future. As his yellow irises banish Zhongcheng's influence, this white light consumes the entire dreamscape, extinguishing this horrible nightmare and reigniting a hopeful dream. A hopeful future.
Yellow irises wake up to the real world once more, trying their best to adjust to the situation they've found themselves in. Crane grimaces at the aching, pulsing pain forming in his head, his mind revealing the truth of the past few hours. How his battles with his enemies of past and present were, in truth, his own family. How every single hit he had dealt was enacted on the people he loves. "Viper?" He calls out to the air, finding himself dazed and tired until he sees her body, scarred and punctured by his own talons. Her sweet blue eyes marred in fatigue as she regains her breath, her worry and agony fading at the sight of her bird's yellow eyes. "Viper!"
At the same time as Crane's revelation, Monkey continues pushing down the side of Rhino's shield atop Zhongcheng's throat. His hollow sclera crave retribution, wishing to see the wolf that had caused all of this pay. Wishing to make up for his horrible failure. "Monkey! Stop!" Mantis' voice blares into his ears, yet what catches him off-guard is the fact that his voice comes out of Zhongcheng's mouth.
"W-what?" His grip loosens on the shield, allowing the wolf to finally throw him off. With a quick roll, Monkey gets up just as the shield clutters to the ground. Yet his enemy doesn't stand before him, it's Mantis. But, that's not possible. He was in the cage, right? Why is he fighting him? How is he- No, he can't fall for it. "This… this is a trick."
Soon enough, Zhongcheng's form takes back its place only for it to flicker back to Mantis' tiny body, "Yes! Zhongcheng tricked you! He trapped you in your own mind!" The very sight of their switching forms only befuddles the conflicted langur further. Is it truly his friend? How could this be? Zhongcheng captured them both, put them in cages. Yet… he didn't use his fear powers against him. Why? Why would he choose to leave him untouched? Why would he choose to torture him and only him? "He's forced you to fight both me and Viper! To make sure that we can't stop him!"
At Mantis' words, answers begin to form in Monkey's head, poking holes into the dreamscape and silencing the 'innocent voices' far off in the distance. Bringing forth a memory of his fight with the dreaded wolf himself. A memory of his glowing eyes and paw. A jaw-dropping revelation fills his irises that finally fade back onto his sclera. He didn't use his fear powers in the cage… because he already had. This prison, their capture. It was all a ploy. A way to keep him out of the fight. To render himself useless. "He… He…"
"He imprisoned you." Goosebumps form along Monkey's heart as a familiar voice cuts through the air, making him dart his head back up to see another langur take Mantis and Zhongcheng's place. A langur with a scar engraved onto his left eye. Wu-Kong. His brother. "Feels like crap, don't it?" Somehow, despite their predicament, a cheeky smirk manages to line his lips.
"Wu-Kong? W-what are… How-
His brother doesn't let him finish, instead opting to take a step towards him and putting his hand on his shoulder. "That doesn't matter. Your friends do." Confusion settles in Monkey's features, unable to decipher whether he is an apparition or a figment of his mind. That is, until his smirk disappears, allowing a serious expression to bore into his little brother's eyes. "He played you like a fool, stripped away all your control and made your mind into a living prison." Though his befuddlement remains, Monkey's fists clench at the truth. At what Zhongcheng had forced him to do.
"He made me hurt them…" He grits his teeth at his own admission, feeling his body shrinking into himself at his own brother's undeterred gaze. "I… I should've been better."
"But you weren't." Monkey meets Wu-Kong's gaze, surprise filling his shamed eyes. "And that won't change. It can't change. Sometimes… we're caught off-guard. Even at our best, we make mistakes. How did you think I got into Chorh-Gom in the first place, hm?" A cheeky jab, maybe, yet it still makes guilt well up in his little brother's heart. Guilt that is immediately apparent in his face. "Sometimes we are powerless, unable to do anything. Sometimes, all we can do is sit and watch as someone else's life crashes and burns." Wu-Kong himself frowns as his brother's expression wilts even further, his eyes unable to face the person he had failed most. The person he wished he could've saved somehow. Upon seeing this, he grabs his other shoulder makes him face him. "But that's just life. That's just how it is."
"It's unfair."
His choked voice only makes his older brother's frown deepen, "Yeah, it is." Even Wu-Kong's voice finds a familiar weight thrust upon it, "But that isn't a reason to let those moments imprison us. It isn't an excuse to wallow in shame and make ourselves powerless." Trying to comfort his little brother, Wu-Kong wraps his arms around him in an embrace, one that Monkey reciprocates immediately despite being caught off-guard. "We can't always be in control of everything. No matter how much we wish we were. All we can really do is move on. Keep pushing, keep fighting, and hope that those moments won't happen again. You're strong, bro. Stronger than I ever was."
Tears fill Monkey's eyes, remembering how weak and helpless he felt upon seeing his mother die. On seeing his brother's many arrests. At hearing his brother's death, and now, this. How can he move on, when it keeps happening over and over? He has to make things right, "I'm sorry." Sobs begin to force themselves out of him as he buries his face into his brother's shoulder, wishing that he would stay with him. Unable to see the tears that also fill his hardened eyes.
"You shouldn't be."
With that, Monkey stumbles forward, his brother's form having disappeared completely. Where did he go? Was he even real? "C'mon, Monkey. I need you back, I need my best friend back. I know you can fight him off." These questions are interrupted by Mantis' pleas, reminding him of the family he had been locked away from. Reminding him that this need to right his wrongs, clinging to his past failures has only imprisoned him further. Wu-Kong was right. All of his guilt, his shame, all it has done is put his friends in danger. All it has done is hold them back from truly ending this. His pupils forming into his eyes once more, Monkey looks to the obscured blue eyes of the innocent hidden in the shadows, their sickly glow shifting to a bright white. There is only one way to vanquish this fear, to keep himself from being a prisoner of his own past. To push past it. To fight onward without looking back. To hope that everything will be okay in spite of his failings. Like his brother said. As his irises extinguish the sickening blue hue from his sclera, the eyes of those innocent people flash brightly, exorcizing Zhongcheng's control. Bathing him in the strength to unchain himself from his guilt.
Cracked marble greets Monkey's eyes as his mind claws its way back to the real world, the poor langur on his hands and knees. A teardrop falls into the cracks, burying the remnants of his guilt, his shame. His head pulses, forcing him to put his hand against his temple as memories flood his mind. Memories of the true 'enemy' he had been fighting the past few hours. Though he scowls at what the wolf had forced him to do, his brother's words guide him away from that shame. They remind him of what is really important. "Monkey?" Though his voice remains cautious, Mantis hops over to his front, concern laden in his hazel irises.
A grateful smile takes over the langur master's lips as he looks to his insect brother, his mischievous blue eyes back and brimming with a hopeful resolve. "Hey, buddy."
With a gigantic smile covering his face, Mantis hops up onto his simian brother's shoulder and embraces him the best he can, Monkey reciprocating his 'embrace' with his hand. "Good to have you back." His gruff takes on a bright whisper, thanking every God he can think of that he's got his best friend back.
"Yeah, great being back." Monkey can't help but let out a slight chuckle, thankful that at least his nightmare is over.
"Viper!" Both friends' attention is diverted to their now free avian brother and beaten sister, making them dash over immediately at the state of her. As they reach her, Mantis hops onto her body and puts his claws together before imbuing her wounds with a golden light. Free blue eyes gaze into shamed yellow, the langur putting a supportive hand on Crane's shoulder to reassure him. To let him know it's not his fault. Though he can see a thankful glint in his sombre expression, its clear that the guilt will remain. Doubly so as the deep gash carved into Viper's side form a scar, one that isn't fading anytime soon. Within moments, her eyes open wider than before, having regained her energy thanks to her insect brother's healing. The rejuvenated serpent looks to her bird, who can only lower his head in shame. "I-I'm so sor-
She doesn't let him finish, instead coiling herself around is torso in a forgiving embrace before placing her cheek against his. "It wasn't you, Crane." Her sweet whisper glides along his heart strings, playing a soft melody that soothes the guilt building up within him and crescendos as she places a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'm just happy you're okay." A bashful, thankful smile forms along Crane's beak as he caresses her with his wing.
Though both him and Monkey smile at their cute reunion, Mantis knows that there is little time for this now. "Hate to break this up, but there's still a massive battle going on."
This reminder wipes the smiles off their faces, replacing them with serious expressions as Viper uncoils herself from Crane. "Right, Zhongcheng's invasion. Where do we go next?" Crane implores, plans and strategies already forming in his head.
"Shifu went forward to help Po, I say we get to them as quickly as possible and end this now."
Fwoosh!
Before any of them can respond to Mantis' suggestion, a bladed wheel flies past them, turning around as it reaches the other end of the pavilion and shooting right at Crane. He manages to push it away from him with his wing, allowing its owner to catch it in her paw. "Your master may have gotten lucky," Wing-Wu growls as her eldest sister stands in front of both her and her sister, her paw clutching the recently thrown wheel.
"You may have broken free of Zhongcheng's control," Wan continues, her eyes still adjusting to the light of consciousness.
Su-Wu's single yellow iris and hollow eye glare at the kung fu masters before them, noting the exhaustion of all but Viper. Noting all the ways she can tear them apart for how their master humiliated them. As their enemies get into their own stances, she utters with a venomous snarl, "But you have no chance against us."
Kaboom!
As the deafening explosions of cannon-fire litter the city streets, Zhonglei sprints ahead with the emperor kept close to his side and a shield he had picked up from a dead soldier held in front. He noted the dwindling number of his troops at the front entrance being supported by the tigers and imperial soldiers from the rear of the palace, the corpses of Zhongcheng's alligators littering the hole they were bottlenecked into. They won't last long with those cannons still up, but he has to prioritise the emperor's safety, otherwise this will have all been for nothing.
Though his sword was knocked out of his paws, he has been able to push back any ground troops that dared to challenge him with mighty shield bashes and his own brutal hand-to-hand prowess. As they manage to make it out of the main battlegrounds and zoom past the city square, ruby irises make sure to keep an eye on his surroundings, wary of any soldiers that may have followed him. Luckily, they are both able to reach the docks at the edge of the city, the tiger general not wanting to risk going through the front entrance.
His eyes widen at the sight of two dead wolves and an unconscious, bound rhino lying before the four tigers he assigned to protect the admittedly scruffy dinghy anchored nearby. A back-up plan for this exact situation. "What happened here?" Zhonglei implores to his men in disbelief.
"They were scouring the docks for anyone we were still trying to evacuate, so we hid and struck them when they weren't expecting it." One of his white tiger soldiers remarks, concern clear among his crew at the sight of the ruffled and beaten emperor. "How goes the battle?"
With a heavy sigh, the Zhanshi chief gazes at the emperor's palace, cannon-fire still plaguing the air and explosions littering the skyline. Poisoning this once majestic city. "We're losing men, fast."
Though it is a tense whisper, all four of his soldiers stand at attention, ready to fight with their honourable general. "We can help you, sir."
"I know." Though the extra manpower would be helpful, he can't risk Zhongcheng finding the emperor again. Ruby irises gaze at them, the Zhanshi chief immovable and uncompromising in his command, "But the best way you can help me is by protecting the emperor and getting him out of here." A clear disappointment can be seen through his soldiers' stern and stiff nods, but they don't dare voice it. He knows what he is doing.
As they bring the emperor onto the small boat and get on it with him, Zhonglei turns away, ready to get back into the fight. "Zhonglei…" Renci calls out to him, sorrow clutching his once powerful voice tight. "I'm sorry. I should've listened."
Part of him remains angered by his foolish yet admittedly noble act, but he knows why he had done all of this. To right his family's wrongs. Sadly, fate has deemed it that he is not the one to be doing so. Instead, the responsibility falls on the dragon warrior's shoulders. Though its unfair, there is simply no other way. "Don't be ashamed of yourself for trying to do the right thing." It may not be what Renci wants to hear, but he knows its what he needs. With that, Zhonglei rushes back towards the city centre, hoping to aid his troops in whatever way he can.
On his way through the city square, another monstrous explosion of cannon fire punches his ears, bringing his attention to the massive tower that rivals the emperor's very own. A vantage point capable of halting the dragon warrior in his tracks. With a resolute scowl, Zhonglei changes course to the tower only for his eyes to widen at a peculiar sight. Two smaller figures zooming from another building into the tower, followed by the sound of a window breaking. Yet, something about both of these figures stands out, making his heart freeze in fear. Both of them have striped tails, one of them orange and one of them gold. The only other gold tiger here would be… Rongyu, Yongqi! At this horrifying realisation, the desperate father rushes over to the tower, praying he can stop his sons before they start a battle they aren't prepared for.
Wham!
Shifu is sent back into the stairwell, rolling on the floor as the monster pounces after him with its blackened teeth laid bare. Before it can land a strike on him, he manages to block it with his staff and push it away with great effort. With heavy pants punching themselves out of his body, he hauls himself up to his feet, standing against his brainwashed daughter in a weak stance. Despite how long they have been fighting, the monster doesn't tire, its stamina seeming limitless along with its tempestuous wrath. A demonic growl leaving its throat, the monster rushes at him again, forcing him to block its powerful punches, kicks and claw swipes.
His defence remains strong in spite of the fatigue, managing to dull the impact of most of its vicious attacks but that doesn't deter the beast inhabiting Tigress' body. Its attacks remain relentless, its claws still thirst for blood, its cruelty not letting up one bit. "You ruined our life!" As he goes to parry one of its kicks with his staff, the monster manages to catch him off-guard by sinking its claws into his right arm, forcing a pained grunt out of his mouth and making him drop the staff on the floor. Without giving him a second's reprieve, the monster dazes him with a punch in the face and lands a brutal kick onto his bad leg.
Crack!
Shifu screams out in agony, falling to his knees only for the monster to kick him in the face, making him roll along the floor. Paralysed by the horrific torment shooting through his entire body from its awful attack, he can only sit and watch as the beast stomps onto his staff, snapping it in half. Rendering the final thing Oogway had left him into a severed wreck. Try as he might, the grandmaster can't push himself onto his feet again, with each attempt forcing more pain to infect his bad leg. More torment that clutches at his whole body. Leaving him powerless as the beast approaches him, a terrifying scowl embedded in its features. Yet, as it takes one more step, this scowl turns into a grimace before it clutches at its head again. Tigress trying to take back control once more. It falls to its knees grunting and growling in defiance until… it stops. Tears fill its hollow and scarred eyes until it breaks down into a sobbing fit, shocking Shifu to the core. It looks to him, but not with the monster's eyes. With Tigress'.
Though her good eye remains hollow and blue, her guilt, her pain shows through it. "Baba…" This whisper stabs into his heart, the usual calm strength in her voice now rife with an insurmountable despair. Tortured by her own demons. Haunted by a reality that had never been true. "Forgive me… Please…" As waterfalls begin to pour down her face, she reaches her arms out, pleading for her father. Pleading for his care, his love.
In her plea to be in his arms, her plea for forgiveness, Shifu can only see the tiger cub imprisoned behind Bao Gu's iron door. All he can see is the poor child that had been deprived of love, of care. I'm Tigress, Tigress the monster! A monster no-one wants. He could remember her voice, weighed down by the children's mocking taunts, shackled by the caretakers' fears. Marred in hopelessness. He could remember the bright smile in her eyes when he had adopted her. He could remember the joy in her eyes, the ecstatic smile on her face when he first adopted her. Joy that he had squashed out. Love that he had neglected. "Tigress…" He whispers, reaching out towards her. Hoping to hug his poor daughter in what could be his last chance to show her how much he cares.
But the monster won't even grant him this mercy. "No… No, please!" Tigress begs to the beast within only for it to rip her control out of her grasp. There is a slight struggle, but the monster overpowers her in mere seconds as it grabs Shifu's body and lifts him into the air. With a hideous growl it slams him into the ground back first, knocking the wind out of him. It unsheathes its claws once more, reeling it back as steely blue eyes widen in horror and for once, fear.
"Tigress!" He bellows, but its fruitless. With a hellish, mighty roar, the monster brings its claws down upon the grandmaster with a mortifying fury.
Shink!
Four deep chasms form in Nuba's chest, her amethyst eyes staring wide at the monster as it digs its claws in deeper and deeper, relishing in her weakened, pained gasps for air. She reaches her paw forward, probably as some useless plea for mercy. As if she deserves it. "Tigress…" Befuddlement fills the monster's hollow eye as her words reach its ears, its voice sounding deeper than before. Until, it feels her paw caress its cheek, her touch feeling… strangely familiar. It goes to grab her paw until it realises its smaller than before. A single hollow eye shifts its side only to see… Shifu's paw? Its eyes widen until it looks back down at its victim, Tigress' father taking their tormentor's place. A petrified gasp flies out of the monster's mouth as it rips its claws out of his chest, the red panda bleeding profusely and wheezing out his breath.
"Rrrrraaaaaagh!" Tigress' scream overpowers the sound of everything else, tearing at the very fabric of the world the same way the world had torn at her heart. It even overpowers the sound of her obliterating the iron door separating her from her monster. Before it can even try to process what is happening, the monster is forced to roll out of the way of the broken door shooting right at it. It looks up to see Tigress, her qipao scorched and torn, her face the very manifestation of grief. Her amber and scarred eyes contorted in a mix of loathing and despair. Though it doesn't want to fight her, the monster can already tell that she won't hold back. It gets onto all-fours, warning her with a vicious snarl. Her eyes dart over to her wounded father, noticing he is still breathing despite the blood flooding his torso. She still has a chance. She has to end this, here and now. As tears flood her eyes, Tigress gets into her stance, damning the monster that has plagued her for her entire life. The monster that threatens to destroy her world. "You've ruined my life, for the last time!"
Oh... Oh my god... Yeah... I know a lot of you are angry with me right now... And... Well... I'm not gonna say anything. Let's just say that next chapter... is definitely something. I hope you have all enjoyed (That may not be the right word) this chapter, and until next time :)