I want to thank everyone for the reviews :-) It motivates me to go on with this story ;-)

"We often pretend to fear what we really despise, and more often despise what we really fear."

Charles Caleb Colton

Crossing the Rubicon

Episode III: Warlord

6. Chapter: At the Walls!

Weeks have passed, things have changed, the war has come.

Everything started with the Fortress Sandai: it fell within one day of siege. No barbarian army has ever achieved that so fast. Further Fortresses and Outposts fell within the next days and weeks; no one resisted longer than a day and no one here could explain this fact.

But the decision fell one week ago: The Baboon Lord gathered an army of loyal soldiers, mercenaries and criminals, who thought they could find fortune by helping and marching against the Baboon Lord's opponent. The barbarian army had one unknown banner in the front: a bear's head, half dark, half blood red. No one knew the enemy before their invasion, but after this day one week ago, they will be never forgotten again: The Battle at the Smoky Plains ended in a disaster for the Baboon Lord Jiao'ao. His army was completely wiped out; the ones who survived this day were the ones, who fled the battlefield; like the Baboon Lord. Now he is hiding inside his Fortress like it could save him, although no one knows what the enemy is planning. His army reached the other side of the river two days ago and thanks to destroying all bridges and ferries they could be stopped that day. But why are they not building new ones? The sword is hanging over every one of our heads and can fall at each moment.

On the other hand the treatment of Tai Lung was effective. He became stronger and stronger, the more time has passed and his 'attacks' have begun to disappear.

The young falcon looks up from his diary to look at his master and Tai Lung, sitting cross-legged at the ground of the room. Both have closed eyes, while the old eagle has put his wing on Tai Lung's back, which is facing him. They have sat so for hours already.

Youtian turns around to look at the empty main street outside of the window of their room, which is found at the second floor of the Tavern. The big escape began already 6 days ago after the message of the outcome of the battle reached Iei. Youtian continues to write his diary First the merchants fled, then the craftsmen and finally the citizens and the rest. No one wanted to stay in a city, which is doomed. No one here in the Tavern liked the message that the villages and towns on the way of this army were burned down to the last wood and their citizens slaughtered. Fear has spread within hours.

The time of our departure is coming closer. He writes in the end, before he hears his master: The old Eagle has opened his eyes and is panting.

"Master are you alright?", Youtian asks, while coming to the side of his master, who seems to falter. "I am fine.", the old eagle replies, while Tai Lung begins to stretch his body, "Tai Lung's treatment is over." Youtian looks to the snow leopard. Yes he has become stronger than weeks ago, but he is still weak crosses his mind. He looks back to his master. "You have overestimated yourself, Master.", the young falcon comments the level of exhaustion of the old eagle, who begins to move to his bed. "No, I knew…this would end up this way…", he pants, "But now Tai Lung's 'Attacks' will be not a problem anymore, while we depart.", he lies down on his bed, "How is the state of our 'watchdogs'?"

"They are still there…although I believe they will take us to the Fortress soon.", Youtian replies, "The Baboon Lord can't risk his 'guarantee' for too long anymore. The attack can happen every moment."

Tai Lung growls a little bit hearing like Youtian calls him, but both birds ignore that. "I see…this night we depart. I will rest till then.", the old eagle says, before rolling over and closing his eyes. It doesn't need much time till he is sleeping.

The scene stays quiet for a while, before Youtian stands up. While going back to his diary he looks once to Tai Lung with glaring eyes. The feline notices this and smirks. "You don't like me, what birdie?", Tai Lung mocks him with a huger grin. "The better question would be: Why should I like you?", Youtian replies with a snappy voice. Tai Lung chuckles. "Yeah, why someone should like the most feared Kung Fu Warrior of China?", he asks sarcastically, but there is also a strange undertone. Youtian tries to continue his writing, but can't do that. "Was it worth it?", he asks suddenly lifting his head, "Losing everything for this scroll?"

Tai Lung growls at him with glaring eyes. "Don't get too cocky, birdie, or…", he threatens, but Youtian finishes the sentence: "…or what? You are only a shadow of your former self." Now the anger is seen pretty good in Tai Lung's eyes. "You are quite brave for the fact, that your sword is not in your reach.", Tai Lung growls, pointing at the two swords which stand at the wall. Youtain not even looks there, but focuses his eyes on Tai Lung. "When you think you can beat me without my sword, then try it.", Youtian challenges the leopard, who roars then. He gets on his feet instantly and jumps at the falcon, who stretches out his wing and throws something. It hits Tai Lung's forehead, which forces him to stop in his movement, while Youtian catches it and points it at Tai Lung's throat.

The leopard starts to see something again, after the pain in his forehead subsides and sees like the young falcon holds a feather close to his throat like a sword. "First Rule of the Art of the Sword: Everything can be your sword, even a feather.", the young falcon recites with a confident voice. Tai Lung looks up and down, at his face and the feather, glaring, but suddenly he starts to realize in what a hilarious posture the two are right now. Now he begins to chuckle and Youtian puts his feather down.

Suddenly Tai Lung's chuckle ends and his fist fly up only to stop in front of the astonished falcon. "First Rule of the Art of Fighting: An opponent is only beaten when he lies on the ground and doesn't move anymore.", Tai Lung recites this time with a smirk. Slowly he puts his fist down and steps back. "You know that even when you had hit me, it would be useless in your state?", Youtian explains, trying to hide his anger. Tai Lung smirks. "What is not now, can still be in the future, don't you think?", he replies, sitting down again, what the young falcon does as well slowly.

"You are not very happy about the decision of your master to take me with you, aren't you?", Tai Lung states, while taking a bottle of water to drink from it. Youtian lowers his head, looking indifferent. "In this case, I can only obey my master like a good apprentice." Tai Lung's eyes widen, anger shots into his head and he almost smashes the bottle at the table – only his current body level prevents this. Youtian eyes him curiously, while he pants with rage. "Obeying your master, what?", he hisses barely able to control his rage, but before something can happen they hear it:

BUMMM!

A shaking goes through the room. "What was that?!", Tai Lung yells, feeling the aftereffect of the quake. Master Iaso is wide awake immediately, while Youtian rushes to the window. "At the Walls!", running baboon guards yell, while rushing to the Fortress. "The attack has begun…but how?", Youtian, asks loud, while another shaking is heard and felt.

"Don't know but we need to depart now!", Master Iaso replies, while taking both swords: one he keeps, the other he throws to his apprentice.

Suddenly the door gets ripped open and two red armored baboons storm inside. "The Attack has begun! You need to come to the Fortress right now!", one of them orders, but he doesn't see like the old eagle sneaks below his chin, grabs his neck and catapults him outside the window – where he crushes the upper window edge. The other baboon gawks like his comrade flies outside and sees too late, how the eagle uppercuts him so hard, that his helmet crushes the upper door edge; one moment later he is forced into a split by kicking one foot away and one further moment he gets punched with two wing fists outside the room only to crush against the opposite wall and stay there unconscious.

The old master smoothes his garment one moment later and looks back at the astonished bird and feline. "What? We have no time to lose for this.", he replies, before going for the bags of the two. Like earlier with the swords he keeps one bag and throws the smaller one to his apprentice. "Let's go.", he says, before he leaves the room already.

The three Kung Fu Warriors rush downwards in the complete empty tavern and step outside quite fast. "At the Walls!", is still heard by some of the slower ones, although no one seems to notice the unconscious baboon lying on the ground. There for the three notice some soldiers, who are not running to the walls, but in the opposite direction – deserters. And one moment after seeing this, they hear BUMMM! again and the room where they were one moment ago, gets destroyed with a huge explosion. "Look out!", the Master yells, before pushing the two out of the reach of falling fragments of the tavern – he does it in time.

"We need to get out of here – fast!", the master pants, while the two come back to him. "Master are you alright? You have used too much power for regenerating Tai Lung. You are…"; "-fine.", the master finishes, "Don't bother that. Think about how to escape this city first. We can worry about my current situation later." The young falcon nods after a while, before looking where the deserters have run. "They come from the west, so we need to go east.", he states the obvious and everyone nods agreeing. "Go!" the eagle says, before they start to run again. BUMMM!

First they cross the main streets, but after finding destroyed building, which lie in the way, they need to take detours, while the bombardment continues. BUMMM! Everywhere where they go, they hear it, the shooting, the destruction…they need to look for flying fragments at each occasion, while they continue to escape eastwards…till they meet a familiar face.

"What the….?", Tai Lung mutters, seeing one deserter lying in the dirt – dead or unconscious, they don't know. An arrow is edging from his chest. "This is a trap.", the old master mutters, while drawing his sword, "They don't want that someone survives…", suddenly an arrow comes flying at the small group, but Master Iaso simply cuts it in two. "What should we do? When here are bowmen it is possible…that they city was surrounded, while no one watched.", Youtian adds to consideration, while deflecting an arrow himself; Tai Lung on the other hand needs to hide between the two and he doesn't like it a bit.

"We need to reach the river. It is the only way out.", the old eagle suggests, before turning around to go back, but Youtian doesn't follow him. "Youtian!", Master Iaso yells to his apprentice, while he deflects another arrow. "Master there is also another possibility: Flying.", Youtian suggests, while stepping closer to his master. "And abandoning Tai Lung? Never!", the master replies annoyed of this reaction. "Master, this is no time for being curious anymore. Our lives are at risk and we can't die yet!", Youtian replies also annoyed, "We can't risk the success of our mission for him.", pointing at the feline during this.

"I said no!", Master Iaso says, getting really angry, "Either everyone of us survives this city or no one. Now come, Youtian!" When birds would have teeth to gnash on them, Youtian would do exactly that now. Finally he gives in,…but too late.

BUMMMM!

The Fortress looks almost destroyed. Walls have new holes now, the roofs are broken and everywhere is found rubble and dirt. The battle lasted the whole day and the sun is setting in the west.

"Hmmm…it still look useable.", Chui Mie comments, while passing along the ramp, examining the remains of the Fortress, "But Shen's cannons proved its value. This old peacock was always good when it came to strong weapons."

"When you wish we can repair all of this, within one week, Sir.", the thin crocodile beside him informs his superior, but this one shakes his head, which is hidden beneath the black hood again. "Not Sir anymore, Wei, but Lord. After all I am controlling one of the imperial provinces now."

"Yes,…my Lord.", Wei corrects himself, while looking back at the two guards, which follow them in their heavy armors. The rubble doesn't hinder them from going forward, because they smash it simply below their feet. "And no you should not repair the Fortress…yet.", Lord Chui Mie adds, "Clean it only from everything useless."

"Yes, my Lord.", Wei nods, while they enter the second level of the Fortress. Almost every building is destroyed or at least damaged. It is easy to see that the main attack was aimed here. "How is it looking with my special orders?", the lord enquires. "Fulfilled. We have eleven prisoners in the dungeons of the Keep, stripped of every weapon and armor."

"Splendid…when the meeting with them is over, I want that 10 messangers should be prepared. There is much to do and still not enough time, even when we use this Fortress as my base of operating.", Chui Mie says out loud, "I want to see the prisoners, when I reach the Keep. Go."

The crocodile nods and begins to run ahead, while Chui Mie enters the second ramp with his guards. Thanks to the holes inside the walls he can see pretty easily his soldiers, who await him on the third level.

"CHUI MIE! CHUI MIE! CHUI MIE!", they yell, while he enters this level. "CHUI MIE! CHUI MIE! CHUI MIE!" He allows the soldiers to praise him more for some while. "CHUI MIE! CHUI MIE! CHUI MIE!"

Finally he takes a step inside the Keep, which is not so damaged like the other buildings. When he enters the throne room, he can't control himself, but needs to smirk. A throne for a Lord like him? Arrogance is a fitting name for him he comments, while he passes the prisoners, who are lined up in front of the throne in a kneeing position. Except for a cloth around their lower regions, they are completely nude. Jiao'ao is pretty easy to be recognized thanks to his golden fur and he gets eyed by Lord Chui Mie, while this one goes in a position, where the throne is behind him and the line in front of him. The wounds of the soldiers are easy to see, although no one is hurt heavily. Good choice Chui Mie comments this in his mind, while starting to stride the line up and down. He eyes everyone personally, although no one can see his face really thanks to the hood. Finally he stops and puts his hood down.

Everyone gasps or gawks after seeing his face, while he positions himself there, where everyone can see him easily. I like this reaction he muses in his mind, before beginning to speak: "I bet every one of you, asks himself, why he is still alive or who I am.", he makes a break and begins to stride up and down again, "Let us begin with the second thing: My name is Chui Mie, the new Lord of this Province."

A chuckle is heard. Chui Mie turns around and goes instantly to the chuckling baboon: Jiao'ao. "What is so funny, Jiao'ao?", Chui Mie asks threatening.

"The impossible…", the former Baboon Lord answers with an arrogant sounding voice, "Chui Mie has died five years ago. Beaten by the Furious Five themselves." Chui Mie smirks, which looks frightening at his wounded side, while coming closer to Jiao'ao. "It was close, yeah, but I didn't die.", he replies amused, "Not that I disliked the matter, that everyone thought I am dead. It was pretty useful to prepare, but now the veil gets casted off. I – Am – Chui Mie.", he looks back to the others, "And who don't believe it, look on my works and remember the despair I have brought five years ago to China. Isn't it identical?", he looks back at the former Baboon Lord, who gnashes his teeth, "Send him to the dungeon again. I will attend to him later…in a more private session.", he grins evilly, "You will not like that, Jiao'ao."

The golden baboon gawks, while soldiers in black grab his chained arms. "No, no…", he stammers starting to panic, "You can't do that! I am the Lord of this Fortress! No!", they drag him to the dungeon doors, while he still tries to resist, "No! No! I forbid it! NO!", and the door closes behind him. Chui Mie is the first one, who stops looking in the direction of the still heard, despite being weak, voice of the baboon, and goes back to his position. "Someone else, who wants to chuckle?", he asks seriously and everyone of the former guards shake their heads frightened. "Good…", he continues, "Then let us come to the reason why you are still alive.", he makes again a break, "You have the luck, that you are useful. You will stay alive and I will even set you free.", the baboons look at each other, not believing what they hear, "But for one simple reason:…", his voice becomes louder and louder after each word, "Tell them about me. Tell everyone about what you saw, heard and felt here. Tell them that Chui Mie has returned from hell and he will punish everyone who has opposed him.", he makes a short break, "And tell them, that the hell is following his steps so China will burn."

And here I end this episode ;-) I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter:-)

Kung Fu Panda and its characters belong to Dreamworks. This story is mine. :-)