Kung Fu Panda 3: Rise of the White Tiger by

Mitchicus

Chapter 4: Injection

Mitchicus awoke the next day planning his escape.

He had not gotten that much sleep that night; for he was too busy planning his escape and wondering what Brutus would make him do. He knew that even if he did escape, he would leave injected with the "Blue Demon". Brutus said that even if he did escape, he would be forced to return from the potion's effects. Hopefully, he could return to the Jade Palace, reunite with Tigress and the others, and maybe get a cure from Shifu for the potion. The plan was simple. After being injected, a guard would come and bring him breakfast. He would simply grapple the guard down like he did with Brutus, by using his legs. He would retrieve the keys and attempt to free at least one of his hands by them, and use his free hand to break the chain. He would not try and grapple Brutus again, because Brutus would most likely be extra precautious of that. Then Mitch would escape through the dungeons, climb over the walls, and run as long and hard as he could to the Valley of Peace. His plans were stopped when Brutus walked in with two rhino guards, and the crocodile was holding a sharp piece of bamboo with a blue substance dipped on the edge.

"It's time for your medicine, Mitchicus." Brutus said, smirking. He nodded to the two guards, who went up to Mitch and held his legs down. "You'll never be the same after this."

The guards unstitched Mitch's shirt, and stood back, still holding each of his legs. Brutus immediately plunged the long piece of bamboo into Mitchicus' chest, straight into his heart. Mitchicus yelled, and shook the chains and the guards holding him with him. Then Mitch looked down at the bamboo sticking out of his chest and let out a few low coughs. Then Brutus pulled out the bamboo, which made Mitch groan. The crocodile eyed the end of the bamboo, which was now blood-soaked. It no longer had any of the potion on the end. The guards let go of Mitch and stood behind Brutus.

"NOW YOU WILL SERVE ME!" Brutus yelled.

Mitch only hanged from the ceiling, his head down, still looking at the new wound. Soon he began to wheeze.

Brutus looked at the guards and said, "Well? Patch him up! I did not inject him with bamboo to kill him, did I?"

The guards went and put bandages on Mitchicus' chest, now blood-soaked. Then they stitched back up his shirt, which also had blood on it. Mitchicus stopped wheezing, and began to feel a little better.

"Now, don't go anywhere, Mitchicus. Soon you'll have revenge on your parents' murderers!" Brutus said.

"What did you do to Fang?" Mitch asked.

"I gave him a home, made him my son, and trained him in my ways. He is now my general and would kill you if it pleases me." Said Brutus.

After that, the guards and Brutus left. Brutus returned to the palace above, and the guards to their stations outside Mitch's cell door. And then a smaller guard carrying dumplings came. All was going as planned for Mitchicus.

The White Tiger grappled the guard down, who was shocked by this action. Why attack the guard that brings you food? Because he has keys also is why. Mitchicus took the keys from the now unconscious guard by grabbing them with his feet, and managed to undo the lock on the shackle holding his right hand. He broke the left shackle by tearing it apart with his right hand. When he jumped to the ground, he examined the dumplings, and ate one. Shrimp dumplings, his favorite. If he did actually serve Brutus, he would want many more of these. But Mitchicus ate one more, and discarded the rest. Time is precious, and the other guards would be looking for the one he just knocked out. Mitchicus ran towards the door, and opened it slightly. A trap for the two guards outside. Mitch crouched and waited in front of the door, until the two burst into the cell. Mitch jumped quickly and double kicked both of them, who hit their heads hard on the stone walls. Mitch sprinted out, ignoring other guards behind him. He sprinted out of the dungeon, now in the main courtyard between the dungeon and the outer walls. He punched a few guards that managed to get in his way while he continued to run towards the wall. Brutus saw the escape, but was not alarmed. He turned to Fang, who was about to chase Mitchicus before he could escape. But Brutus held his hand in front of him.

"He'll return. The potion is already coursing through his veins. He will be back in a week." Brutus said calmly.

Mitch made to the wall, and climbed it with his claws. He took out around eight guards on the wall, and looked over the wall. It looked much taller than it did climbing it. Mitch reached for his crossbow on his back, but could not find it. Now he wished he had it, as a way to grapple down. Instead of grappling down, Mitch jumped over the wall. When about to hit the ground, he turned around and scraped his claws against the wall. Sparks went flying, and he began to slow until reaching the ground. Guards were yelling and throwing weapons at him, but Mitchicus continued to run, until the fortress was far behind him.

The wolf boss had stayed the night, and met with Shifu at the front door to say farewell. The Five had resumed normal training, and Po was in the kitchen.

"I must return to the fortress now, Master Shifu." The wolf said, bowing. "I was supposed to be raiding a village, but managed to bribe the men I was sent with into not telling the commanding officer that I left."

"Understood, Adolfo." Shifu said.

That was the name Shifu made for the wolf, for the wolf wanted to forget his old name because of the sins that he did with it.

"I will continue to send letters to you regarding Brutus' plans." Adolfo said.

"As always, thank you for your service." Shifu said, bowing.

"Your welcome, Master Shifu." The one-eyed wolf said.

Then the wolf turned and left to go back to the fortress of Brutus.

Po ate his bowl of dumplings quickly. He still was angry about what Tigress said. He was filled with jealousy, and he came up with an idea. He would ruin the relationship between Tigress and Mitchicus. Po found Tigress by the Peach Tree, meditating. And so he initiated his plan.

"Hey Tigress." Po said in a normal tone.

Tigress turned around quickly. "Hey Po. You alright?"

"Yeah," Po said as he sat on the ground next to her. "Look, I'm sorry for what I said. I shouldn't be angry about who you choose to love." He said, sighing. "I still want for us to be together like I always dreamed."

Tigress put her paw on his shoulder. "We still can be together like that, Po." She said, smiling.

Everything was in place. She showed a friend-like compassion for him, and if Po could show it to Mitchicus, he could make the White Tiger think that she is betraying him.

Mitchicus took a short rest near a pond. It was now a day after his injection, and he felt somewhat changed. Something calling him to go back. After drinking some water from the pond, he looked at his reflection. He saw the red scar that Brutus gave him, but that was no surprise for him. What did surprise him was his change in eye-color. His eyes went from a bright blue to a purple tint. Obviously, the potion was working. He could not afford to waste any more time. The time he spent away from Tigress and the others was less time for him to find a cure for the "Blue demon". Mitch took one last stretch, and began to sprint on all fours to the Valley of Peace.

Tai Lung walked with Shifu through the Hall of Heroes. He remembered the last time he was there. Nearly killing Shifu to get the Dragon Scroll, and then fighting his ALMOST final battle against Po. But he had changed, and would never do anything like that again.

"Father," Tai Lung said calmly.

"Yes, my son?" Shifu said.

"I believe that to prevent me from doing anything like I did before, I need to master inner peace." The snow leopard said. "Could you teach me, father?"

"Yes I can, my son." Shifu said, smiling.

Shifu led Tai Lung to the Pool of Sacred Tears, and taught him inner peace just as he had taught Po. While teaching, Shifu remembered Po's reaction to hearing about the relationship between Tigress and Mitchicus. He wondered if Po had gained inner peace of his past, but lost it in his present. There could be jealousy in Po, and Shifu did not know what kind of bad consequences that would lead to. But then Shifu shook the thoughts aside, and decided to talk to Tai Lung.

"How does it feel to be back home, Tai?" Shifu asked.

"It feels great, to be back where heroes stay, and be on the right side."

"A great answer. Son, the last time I said I was proud of you, you nearly killed me." Shifu said laughing.

Tai Lung did not laugh, but frowned. He still felt shame for what he had done in his past, and was trying to forget it.

"But I mean it now more than ever when I say that I am proud of you." The red panda said. "You have corrected your mistakes on your own, and have become my son again."

Tai Lung was touched at this. He knew that he truly belonged here.

"But, I had a little help, father." Tai Lung said, smiling.

"Who?" Shifu asked.

"Master Oogway."

Brutus surveyed the map of a village north of his army's location. It was a village surrounded by mountains, with one entrance. That is, one entrance that his army can fit through. The mountains and paths around it were too treacherous and small for his army to go through, with their heavy armor and weapons. The inhabitants did have a small fighting force, however. A militia of volunteers, strong or weak, that were willing to die to save their village. They would be no match for the crocodile's superior numbers. This was Shan Fen, the village of the pandas that Mitchicus was destined to save. Brutus did not believe in this prophecy, or any other foretelling of anything. He would not attack this village until Mitchicus returned, and killed all of the Black Dragons. Fang, Mitch's brother and Brutus' general, stood beside the crocodile.

"When will he return?" Fang asked.

"In a week, considering how much time it takes for him to be completely controlled and take the journey back. When he does return, we will go to Colditz Castle."

Brutus pointed to a castle on the map, which was more of a tower than a castle. It had walls with openings on the sides, for soldiers and guards to look through. It also had a large river running behind it, running deep into a mountain range. The top floor of the castle was the throne room, a large room with pillars and carvings of dragons on the outside. The dungeon on this castle was never completed, but there would be no need for it. Mitchicus would be under Brutus' control, and any traitors would be executed, rather than be imprisoned. Brutus looked at Fang, the cub he had stolen from his dead parents, and raised as a raider. It would not be hard to make his next decision towards Fang.

"Fang." Brutus said coldly.

"Yes, my lord?" The tiger answered.

"I would like you to not lead the attack on Chun Chen, the hideout of the Black Dragons."

"Why, my lord?" Fang asked.

"Because Mitchicus needs to lead it. It is more personal to him than it is to you." Brutus answered.

"If it pleases you, my lord." Fang said, bowing.

Brutus placed his claws on the hilt of his sword.

"Your services are no longer needed, Fang." Brutus said as he plunged his sword into the tiger's chest.

Four days had passed now since Mitch's injection. The white tiger stood on a mountain, overlooking the valley of peace. He was tired, hungry, and becoming a slave. What could be worse? Mitchicus sprinted down the mountain, into the valley. He passed curious villagers, not knowing if he was a fellow Kung Fu master or bandit. Mitchicus ignored them, and hurried to the Jade Palace. The only thing that mattered to him was to see Tigress once more. He sprinted up the steps to the Jade Palace. He heard noises from the Training Hall, so he checked there first. He slammed open the door to see Viper, Mantis, Crane, Monkey, Tai Lung, and his love, Tigress, training. All but Tigress noticed the panting White Tiger at the front door. Tigress continued to train until Viper gestured with her eyes to the front door, for her to look. Tigress turned to see Mitchicus, her true love, standing at the door. The one she had nightmares of him being tortured or being dead. And now she saw him alive, smiling weakly to her. Tigress ran from her training and into Mitch's arms, and began to sob. Mitchicus embraced her, for he had waited so long to be with her again.

"I thought I lost you!" Tigress said, sobbing.

"No, no. I'll always be with you." Mitchicus said, smiling at her. "Never forget that.

Tigress looked at the one she loved. So much had changed about him. Hs clothes were torn; a long red scar was on his head, from his right eyebrow to the top of his cheek. She stroked it gently, and he squeezed her free hand in return. Then she saw his eyes. They were a dark purple, rather than the bright blue she remembered.

"What did they do to you?" She asked softly.

Mitchicus frowned. "They've changed me."

A/N: So much has happened in this chapter! Mitch is becoming a slave to Brutus, Po plans to ruin the love between Mitchicus and Tigress, Tai Lung becomes a greater son for Shifu, and Fang is murdered by Brutus. Brutus has sealed his fate. I got the name "Colditz Castle" from the video game RUSE, so I do not own the name. Shifu's name for the wolf boss, Adolfo, is Latin for "noble wolf". This is Shifu's thanks to the wolf for him giving information about Brutus. Next chapter: Heartbreak. Please continue to read, review, and please, no flames!