Chapter 4: Invitation

Po or Angel and Sandra were on their way to a healer's hut when one of the gorilla bodyguards stopped them. He glared at the two leopards as he spoke in a deep voice. "Mr. Scorpio wishes for you two to join him for dinner," he said folding his arms. Angel and Sandra looked at each other not expecting this at all.

"Uh Angel needs to get to a healer will that be okay with Mr. Scorpio?" Sandra asked politely. If they quickly angered Scorpio it could blow their whole plan. The gorilla looked at Angel and his facial expression changed.

"Mr. Scorpio expects you within an hour come back here and I will lead you to him. If you are one minute late he will be offended and you do not want to offend him," the gorilla said giving them a dangerous look.

"No wouldn't want to do that," Angel said politely. The gorilla smiled and left them alone.

"Come on we need to get you to the healer's hut," Sandra said. She helped Po up the stairs and out towards the shop.

"So kids find what you were looking for?" Uncle Joe asked them with a smile.

"Yes, we found exactly what we were looking for," Sandra told him smiling. They walked out to the dusty road as Sandra and Angel walked to the healer's hut. It was an old goat man as he looked at Angel's bruises and shook his head.

"Boy young man you had quite a scrape," he said in a soft tone.

"Yes sir," Po said looking away.

"How did you get that cut?" he asked as he put alcohol on his wounds. Po winced at the stinging as he gritted his teeth.

"Uh work accident," Po said through gritted teeth.

"That seems to happen a lot recently I had to patch up a boar about an hour ago. Poor fellow really took a beating I don't know what happened and I don't think I want too," he said. "Seems ever since the Dragon Warrior's death more people keep getting hurt. It is a real shame," the goat man said. Po hid a sad expression as a tear fell from his face. This was his fault if he didn't fake his death none of this would be happening now. He didn't deserve to be Dragon Warrior but he helped to help Sandra. They had been planning this for years and now after all this time they were finally so close. He couldn't back at now not after all they went through. Still he wished he didn't have to lie to his family and friends. He saw how badly Tigress was and he could only imagine how the others felt. And his poor father thinking he lost his only son. Po felt like the scum of the Earth but once this was over he would do anything to gain their trust back. That is if he lived long enough to see them again.

"Yeah it's a real shame," Po whispered. Once he was patched up they went back to the weapon's shop. Sandra had seen the painful look in his eyes and felt bad. When they were younger it was just to find one person. But while Sandra was out bounty hunting she overheard about Mr. Scorpio from a couple of low lives and a rumor was how he got revenge from a male leopard defying him and how he burned him and his family alive. Sandra couldn't believe her ears but she told Po everything and they agreed to find out if this Scorpio was behind her parents' death. Po stayed in the village listening for any type of information and Sandra did her bounty hunting. When Po became the Dragon Warrior their mission was put on hold but he would leave at a moment's notice once one of them found out any new information. That is what happened that fateful night Sandra found Scorpio's right hand man and asked Po to come with her to see if the rumor was true. They got him drunk and he revealed everything and once he realized what he did, he set the place on fire. Po and Sandra made it out alive but one thing they didn't count on was another one of Scorpio's spies was there. The spy only knew the Dragon Warrior was after Scorpio but he didn't know who the bounty hunter was. So, they faked Po's death for Scorpio knew Po was a panda and then their new plan took fold. Sandra felt so bad for dragging Po deeper into this and knew it was not right. This was her battle and not his; the only honorable thing to do was let him go.

"If you want out I understand it was wrong of me to drag you further into this. This is my fight not yours and I am sorry I made you continue this mission with me," Sandra said as she shed tears.

"Hey I agreed to this remember and there is no way I am letting you do this alone. I am your friend Sandra and I will see you through this to the bitter end okay. We are in this together since the beginning and I am not backing out now," Po told her as he held her paw.

"Thank you P- I mean Angel, you are the best," Sandra said smiling. Po smiled and they went to have dinner with Scorpio. The gorilla led them to a huge dining hall covered in red velvet with silk blue rugs. A roaring fire place and pictures of fine art and in the center was a table made out of pure oak. Mr. Scorpio smiled as Angel and Sandra sat across from him.

"It isss sssso nice you two could join me for dinner," Scorpio hissed in a raspy voice.

"Believe me sir the pleasure is all ours," Angel said bowing as did Sandra.

"Sssir, how nice and proper to sssee a young man with mannersss," Scorpio said with a smile. "Ssso my dear lad and lasss what are your namesss? You already know mine but if you are going to be one of my fightersss I ssshould have your namesss," Scorpio said.

"I am Angel and this is Sandra," Po told him.

"You sssure gave Cyclone a run for hisss money Angel," Scorpio said with a smile. The gorillas placed platters made out of gold onto the table filled with delicious food. "Pleassse enjoy yourssselvesss my home isss your home," Scorpio said motioning with his tail for Po and Sandra to eat. Sandra took a dumpling as did Po. Once they took a bite Scorpio flashed they a fanged smile.

"The food is delicious sir," Sandra said politely.

"Thank you my dear," Scorpio told her. "Ssso Angel, what bringsss you to my fightsss?" Scorpio asked him.

"Just trying to earn some quick cash to earn my bread sir," Po said calmly.

"Good I love young people who earn thingsss in life inssstead of expecting people to jussst hand thingsss to them. I earned ever bit of thisss finery you sssee before you," Scorpio said motioning to the room with his tail.

"You have excellent taste sir," Po said looking around the room.

Thank you Angel, would you like a dead mousse," Scorpio said as he lifted a dead mouse from a silver container and handed it to Po.

"Um no thank you sir I can't eat mice too fattening have to stay in shape to fight," Po said but worried that if he angered Scorpio then they would be dead before they could complete their mission.

"I like people who are honessst," Scorpio said smiling. "How about you my dear?" Scorpio asked holding the mouse close to Sandra's face.

"No thank you either sir I am allergic to white mice," Sandra said faking a sneeze.

"My apologiesss," Scorpio said as he placed the mouse into his mouth. He ate it whole and the sound made Po sick to his stomach and Sandra almost did get sick. "It isss getting late and I mussst retire. Thank you for joining me for dinner, I hope you have fun with the fightsss but try and not die," Scorpio laughed. Then he bowed to them and left as the gorilla escorted Po and Sandra out. Once they were back outside Sandra rushed over to the alleyway and threw up.

"Oh man just seeing him eat that mouse was sickening," Sandra groaned as Po held her.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah just take me to a place where we can get some sleep," Sandra told him. They went to a local inn and stayed in a room. As they slept phase one was complete they gained access to the fights and made an impression with Mr. Scorpio. Now phase two getting closer and find evidence connecting him to Sandra's parents' death. Now that phase was the hardest one of all and one wrong move and they both would perish.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.