I know this has been in several authors notes of several fics already but if you haven't seen KFP2 yet, what are you waiting for? go! watch it! This fic will be waiting for you when you get back! anyway... sorry for the delay, hope you enjoy the story, and don't forget to review!

Chapter 4: Thunder and Lightning

"What are you up to, Shifu?" Tai Lung snarled with narrowed eyes.

"It is not Shifu you should be worried about," a voice behind Tai Lung spoke softly, almost growling in the shadows. "You are always first defeated by yourself before you are beaten by anyone else."

Tai Lung spun on his heel and snarled at his intruder, which he discovered was a rather short, black hedgehog with red highlights on his spiked quills and white fur on his chest, hard, almost glowing red eyes, and a cold, emotionless expression on his face. "So you are the much debated Tai Lung, Master of the One Thousand Scrolls of Kung Fu."

"And you must be … dead!" Tai Lung snapped before diving toward the Hedgehog.

The black hedgehog watched passively as the larger leopard barreled toward him. "CHAAAOOS…" He chanted as Tai Lung lunged toward him, but met nothing but stony earth.

"Wha?" Tai Lung growled, looking around for his opponent.

"CONTROL!" Shifu's former student heard from directly above him before two red shoes stomped on the top of his head. He forced the leopard's head back to the ground before leaping off to stand a short distance away.

"You are skilled, but you lack discipline," the Hedgehog stated, watching as the Leopard climbed back to his feet.

"Who are you?" Tai Lung snarled.

"I am Shadow the Hedgehog. Now …" Shadow said, motioning with his fingers for him to 'come on'. "Show me what you can do."

Tai Lung snarled at the small rodent before diving and, much to his irritation, he only slashed the ground. "Stop running, coward, and fight me!"

"Coward?" the hedgehog's red eyes narrowed on the snow leopard. "If you wish to be serious, then let's …" the hedgehog disappeared in a flash of speed before his fist slammed into Tai Lung's jaws ending him twirling to the side only to be met by another fist that sent him stumbling in the other direction.

Tai Lung spat out a bit of blood as he stabled himself. "You can do more than jump around then?" he smiled.

He watched as Shadow crotched down and began to spin in a ball. The hedgehog flew at the leopard with intense speed but this time he was ready for him. Tai Lung planted his remaining front paw to the ground and swung up with both feet with perfect timing to slam into the spinning hedgehog like a bat striking a ball.

Shadow flew backward in the air before attempting to right himself. "CHAAAAOOOSS…" he flashed and materialized directly behind the disgraced master. "Contr-UMPH!" he gasped as Tai Lung's elbow hit the center of his ribs.

"Predictable…" Tai Lung turned and towered over the hedgehog.

"As are you…" Shadow smirked back.

"Huh?" Tai Lung looked down to see a grenade strapped to his arm. His eyes widened as he clawed the strap with the claws of his feet then kicked it in the air, but was still thrown back from the force of the explosion.

"You are skilled, Tai Lung, as expected," Shadow crossed his arms a short distance away.

"I am the true Dragon Warrior…" Tai Lung growled.

"No, you are not, but you do have potential for greatness," Shadow stated. "You have full knowledge of Chaos and Control, but they are broken apart, until you master them completely you will never be all you can be."

"Why would you want to help me?" Tai Lung spat.

"Simple: My brother," Shadow said mysteriously. "Come, Tai Lung, you have much to learn…"

Tigress' fists and feet cut through the air as she worked through a kata in rear garden of the Jade Palace. "You've come a long way, Mei Ren," a voice spoke, and Tigress glanced up to see Princess Sally walking toward her.

"That's a name I haven't heard in years…Sally…" Tigress said stopping to turn toward the Princess.

"I always knew you'd become a master," Princess Sally said as stopped before her old friend. "I still remember the first time we met…"

"Good times in a horrible time," Tigress smiled.

"Maurice!" five year old Princess Sally yelled at the annoying blue hedgehog that kept pulling at her ponytail.

"Come along, children," Sir Charles, Maurice's uncle, walked into courtyard where the children were playing. "The Masters from the Jade Palace in China have arrived, and they brought children your ages. As princess it is your job to help them become comfortable here."

"Of course, Sir Charles," Sally beamed at the hedgehog knight.

"Sweet! Thanks Uncle Chuck!" Maurice smiled brightly. "Fresh meat!"

"You behave yourself, young one," Charles scowled at his rambunctious nephew.

Maurice and Sally ran along behind Sir Charles as they joined Sally's father King Acorn and the human who sided with them Sir Julian awaiting the group approaching Mobotropolis' gates.

"Master Oogway, welcome to Mobotropolis!" King Acorn gave a slight bow to the aged tortoise and his companions.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Oogway smiled, "Allow me to introduce you to my students, Master Shifu and his children, Tai Lung and Mei Ren," Oogway motioned to Shifu and Tai Lung who had a young tiger cub giggling on his shoulders. "And also Master Viper and his eldest daughter Jai Li," the large snake bowed and the smaller snake with a ribbon wrapped around her body mimicked her father's movements.

"Sally, you and Maurice help them take their things to the guest quarters," King Acorn instructed.

"Mei Ren, Jai Li, take our things while we discuss the state of things with the King," Oogway instructed the children.

Tai Lung let the young girl down and tapped her tail with his paw. "Don't get into any trouble, runt," Tai Lung smiled.

"We'll be good, Gege," Mei Ren said as she and Jai Li shared matching grins, Mei's toothy and Jai showing her tiny fangs.

"Things were so much simpler back then…" Sally hugged herself.

"I couldn't agree more," Tigress gave a small smile.

"As he was locked up, I'm assuming Tai Lung didn't take not getting the title of Dragon Warrior well…" Sally noted.

"You can… say that…" Tigress replied awkwardly.

"I'm sorry…" Sally said softly, touching her friend's arm. "If you ever want to talk…"

"I'll come, but I'm fine, really," Tigress pressed.

"Also, you and the Dragon Warrior?" Sally asked with a sly smile causing Tigress' eyes to bulge.

"Wha? The Panda? Po and I? We're… he's… What?" Tigress stammered, struggling to regain her composure.

"He is a big boy," Sally noted, "But he is cute… and don't think I missed how protective you were when he was hurt by Metal Sonic."

"He's an ally and a friend," Tigress forced out, "I'd be the same way if any of my friends were hurt."

Tigress began pacing. "On top of that, he's lazy, he likes to take short cuts in training, he doesn't brush his teeth as often as he really needs to, he couldn't stay focused if his very life depended on it, and…"

"Are you trying to convince me or you?" Sally gave a slight giggle.

"Probably both," Viper slithered up to the two. "Highness," Viper bowed to Sally.

"You too, Viper?" Tigress' crimson eyes widened on the tree snake.

"It's just a common observation," Viper flicked her tongue before glancing to Sally. "Thanks again for the help, Princess."

"I told you years ago, Jai Li, it's just Sally," Sally commented to the snake, but both Tigress and Sally had confused looks when the snake's eyes narrowed slightly.

"My name is Viper now," She replied with an oddly cold hiss.

"Ok…" Sally said awkwardly, "Looks like your boyfriend's back, Master Tigress," Sally winked when she pointed to the Tornado approaching.

"Where did the blue one go?" Viper asked as the trio approached the make-shift landing pad.

"Sonic? He's gone to get an emergency fall back if we need it," Sally replied as they approached the cleared patch near the central temple.

Tails and Julie-Su helped Po and Monkey from the back of the air carrier, and the large panda grinned at his friends.

"How'd it go?" Viper asked as they stopped before them.

"Smooth as my dad's secret ingredient soup!" Po grinned.

Tigress gave him a skeptical look. "Ok, he was really confused about us just letting him go, I think he was expecting us to be setting him up or something."

"Sounds more like it," Tigress crossed her arms, "It's been quiet here since you've been gone."

"Good maybe it'll stay that way," Po sighed, "Could use some breath catching up time…"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rouge the Bat flew backwards out through the door of the main temple.

"The rabbit's lost her mind!" Rouge stammered as she tried to get back on her feet, only to be knocked back down by a flying kick from Cream.

"We're not done yet," Cream said, taking a fighting stance.

"Silly rabbit, you have no idea who you're messing with…" Rouge growled.

"Then show me, Ms Tissue-Stuffed-Chest," Cream ordered, tossing her long ears behind her head. Rouge threw a punch but to her surprise the rabbit was just not even there. She yelped when a small fist collided hard against her lowest rib then pounded in a series of punches to the abdomen before she was roundhouse kicked away.

"Whoa…" Tails eyes widened as the group watched as Rouge bounced twice before coming to a stop beside the training hall wall.

"Cream! That's enough," Po barked, causing Cream to relax but not release her fighting stance. "Any particular reason for you to attack our friend here?"

"She was trying to steal the display pieces in the Great Hall, Master," Cream said, her eyes not leaving the bat. "I caught her about to grab the Sword of Heroes."

Po's eyes narrowed on the Rouge. "Is that true, Rouge?" Sally asked with her arms crossed.

"I was just… looking…" Rouge said awkwardly, rubbing her sore stomach.

"Yeah right, we know ya better, Rouge," Sonic said, from where he was leaning against Po. "Knux!" He called as his best friend/rival walked up to his own teammate.

"Sonic! You're back," Sally said as Knuckles approached the fearful Rouge menacingly. "Did you get them?"

"All set and ready if we need it," He said patting his backpack.

"Alright, Rouge, as always, this hurts you a lot more than me…" He said grabbing her by her ankles.

"No, no, I didn't grab nothing I didn't…" She was cut off when he lifted from the ground and spun in a circle at top speed. She screamed as weapons and rolled up paintings fell to the ground.

Knuckles let her go and she stumbled along the ground. "I hate it when you do that…" She wheezed, gagging slightly.

"If we didn't need all the help we could get, I'd say do a more proper punishment…" Tigress growled at the bat, "But maybe having her put all the things back where they belong…"

"I'd suggest just letting it go for now," Sonic shrugged, "You really want her back in there with priceless treasure?"

"We have to pack up everything anyway," Cream shrugged, "If we have to evacuate, I'd hate to lose all those treasures."

Po nodded, "Right, right, Cream, take these and start loading up the rest of the Memorabilia of Awesomeness."

Cream bowed to her master, then went about picking up the various weapons and items Rouge tried to get away with. She froze slightly when another hand grabbed hers, both reaching for the same rolled up painting. "Heh…" Tails chuckled as they looked up and locked eyes. "Um… can I help?"

Cream blinked and glanced back to Po, who nodded with a smile. "Sure… let's go." She grinned, and Tails followed behind with a goofy smile.

Po smiled brightly and clapped his hands. "Alright, who's hungry?"

Sonic zipped back up to him, and slapped his back. "Now you're talkin' my language, Rollie!"

- KFP/STH-

"You're in for a rare treat," Viper said as she sat with the gathered Freedom Fighters, Furious Five, and Master Shifu.

"Oh?" Sonic asked, glancing from where he was seated with Sally.

"Po is one of the best cooks in all of China, his father is even better," Tigress complimented watching the panda and goose work in perfect harmony around the small stove of the Jade Temple's small kitchen. "We're about to receive a meal from them both."

"Awesome, where's his dad?" Sonic asked, looking around the kitchen.

"That's his dad there," Mantis nodded to the pair.

"That's … a goose…" Sonic looked perplexed, "I'm not seeing much goose in Tubby…"

"Sonic! Be polite," Sally snapped.

"Hey, Sal, cool down, I'm just stating obvious," Sonic shrugged, "He doesn't think he was hatched does he? It would so suck to be his mom if he was…" His eyes widened and he yelped when Sally's heel came down on his foot.

"Alright! Soups on!" Po and Mr. Ping came with bowls of noodle soup on their arms, and effortlessly placed them and a clean pair of chopsticks before each of the group.

Shifu and the Five effortlessly dug in as well as most of the Chaotix and Freedom Fighters. All but Sonic who quizzically looked at the two odd sticks in his hands.

He started out trying to stab the noodles but did little but made a small mess on the table. He then put the sticks together and tried to use them as a spoon with little more success.

He finally threw the sticks over his shoulder and picked the bowl up in his hands and took a long sip of juice and noodles. He said it down with disgusted look on his face. "This stuff sucks, got any Chili Dogs?"

"Sonic!" Sally gasped, but the damage was done.

Mr. Ping looked scandalized and Po was giving a glare that would put Tigress to shame.

"I'm sorry it doesn't meet your standards," Po said, glaring daggers at the hedgehog. "I'm sorry everything here seems below your par."

"Apology accepted," Sonic sat back with a smirk, "Now bout those Chili Dogs."

"I want to know what your problem is," Po said leaning across the table, his green eyes burning. "Ever since you got here all you've done is put us down."

"No I haven't," Sonic said tilting his head, "The Furious Five are pretty bad ass; I've just been putting you down."

"Look, Po was it? Right, Po, pal, dude, I mean look at them, and look at you…" Sonic said motioning to the Furious Five then to Po. "One of these is not like the others… granted its equal weight if not off balance…"

"He's earned his place," Monkey said, as the Five glared.

"He doesn't belong here," Sonic said, his eyes growing seriously. "I've fought Buttnik as long as I can remember. He's adapted his robots to fight me. What you're fighting is something I'm certain Shifu and the Five can handle no problem. SWATbots and Badniks are designed to fight fighters who are super fast and super agile. I'm not seeing much of that with you, 'Dragon Warrior'."

"I can hold my own, Blue Boy," Po growled.

"Sure you can, that's why you were laying there in a puddle of blood with Master Kitty freaking out over you when we met," Sonic shrugged, "What were you doing, waiting your time, going to bleed on him and make him rust?"

"If you wish for a demonstration of the Dragon Warrior's skill," Master Shifu broke in, "Perhaps, it is time he provided one."

All eyes were on the aged Master then to the two heroes. "You wanna go, then let's go," Po popped his neck.

"Let's dance," Sonic stood up.

"Oh, this is gonna be good…" Mantis rubbed his fore-claws together excitedly.

Sonic and Po led the group outside of the dining hall; Po paused to check the bandage on his chest while Sonic went a series of paces ahead of him. "Don't think I'm gonna hold back on you, Panda, just because you've got a flesh wound on your chest."

"I am sorry…" Sally said standing beside Tigress as the two heroes stretched and prepared.

"You didn't make your friend offend mine," Tigress said to the princess.

"Oh… I am sorry about that too, but I was talking about Po losing to Sonic in a moment," Sally shrugged.

"Excuse me?" Tigress narrowed her eyes.

"You honestly don't think he can win, do you?" Sally asked glancing from Po to Sonic, "Po may be powerful but no way he can keep up with Sonic. Power means nothing if you can't hit your target."

"It's Sonic who can't win," Tigress gave a light growl, "A little blue pincushionis no match for the Dragon Warrior."

"Please, Sonic eats dragons for breakfast," Sally rolled her eyes.

"You'd be frightened to know what all Po eats for breakfast," Tigress growled back, but hesitated a moment after. "…you really would."

"Take him down, Sonic!" Sally cheered, and Sonic gave her a dramatic bow.

"Po!" Tigress barked, drawing the Dragon Warrior's attention. "Skadoosh," She said with a nod, earning a grin from the panda.

Shifu smiled himself at his students before growing serious. "Put whatever harsh feelings you have for each other in this dual. Once it's over let it be over." Shifu ordered the two.

Sonic took a runner's stance while Po began moving his feet and arms in a fluid motion with his eyes closed.

"Begin!" Shifu yelled, and Sonic began to spin in place, making a loud revving sound, Po continued to make his movements while Sonic's quills began to glow a light blue.

Sonic released himself and he flew at the panda with his ultimate attack, the Light-Speed Dash. Then to the hedgehog's surprised instead of striking the Dragon Warrior he felt himself being lifted and spun around before being released in another direction. He impacted a stone wall and sat there dazed a moment, just staring at the Panda glaring right back in a fighting stance. "Ready to give it up, Spike?"

"Oh, I'm just getting started…" Sonic said, getting back to his feet.

"Awesome…" Po said as the two ran toward one another.

Sonic slid between Po's legs and tried to make a upward spinning kick, but Po spun around and blocked it with one arm, throwing a punch with his other that Sonic just barely dodged.

"He's quicker than he looks…" Sally blinked watching the fight continue. Tigress said nothing, simply watched the pair trade blows and kicks.

Sonic and Po paused in their fighting for a moment, glaring at each other but smiles on their faces. "Ok, so maybe I underestimated you, just a little…" Sonic said, his eyes dancing with excitement.

"Yeah, you might just be able to back up that big mouth with bit of skill there," Po replied, his own eyes holding the same thrill as Sonic.

Sonic shot forward, launching a upper cut connecting with Po's jaw, but the Dragon Warrior pushed through the daze to come around and catch the hedgehog in the ribs, and the war continued.

Punch, evade, punch, kick, parry, dodge, block, the war went on and on with neither giving an inch. "Do you surrender?" Po gasped, breathing hard.

"NEVER!" Sonic breathed back, with one knee on the ground, and gasping for breath.

"Hey… where'd everybody go?" Po asked, glancing to the side.

"Oh, yeah right!" Sonic growled, "Like I'm going to fall for the oldest trick in the book? … Where is everybody?" he asked noticing the only ones left were Sally who was laying on the ground on her side, snoring softly and Tigress sitting lotus style beside her meditating.

"They lost interest after the four hour mark… three hours ago," Tigress said, opening one eye. "It's three in the morning, are you two ready to go to bed yet? If not I'm done with you."

"…To be continued?" Sonic asked, glancing to the Dragon Warrior.

"To be continued." Po nodded.

To Be Continued…

"Just as well, I was just about to finish you, Tubby,"

"Dream on, Spikes-for-brains, I was about to unleash such awesomeness you were going to be blinded for life."

"I saw your butt-crack a few times in the fight, dude, it's a wonder I wasn't blinded for life from that…"