Xian was not happy about nearly having his tail pulled off, but after Eagle Jr. had found that Po's shoulder had been significantly damaged by his collision with the tower wall, he was a little more forgiving. The tenth floor window had brought them into a small storeroom full of firework powder, and Eagle Jr. had set Po on the sturdiest barrel present. Xian was leaning against the wall, wondering out loud what Long Feng's men had done with the storeroom's original contents, and receiving no answer from his fellows.

"What do you mean I've separated my shoulder?" Po asked. He winced as Eagle Jr. examined his shoulder a second time.

"Basically the tendons connecting the collarbone to the shoulder have been damaged." Eagle Jr. mumbled as the second examination confirmed his diagnosis.

Po made a funny face. "There're tenders in my shoulders?"

Eagle Jr. looked up. "Tenders?"

"Yeah, that's what you said."

"... Tendons. I said tendons. Get your mind out of the gutter, you fool."

"To be fair, you didn't say it clearly." Xian noted.

"So my tender- tendons are damaged. Is that a bad thing?" Po asked.

"You said you weren't feeling numb, and that's a good sign." Eagle Jr. said. "Still, no more using this arm until we can get a doctor."

"Hey, no need." Po said, putting on a happy face despite the agony. "It's nothing a little chi can't fix. Watch this, I've been practicing..."

He put his paw to his shoulder, and after a few seconds it started to glow. Po sighed in content as the golden chi seeped into his shoulder and repaired the internal damage. He was done in no time. Eagle Jr. and Xian stared as the glow faded and Po rolled his shoulder, now good as new. "What the hell?" Eagle Jr. said, looking like he had just watched Po strip naked.
"Didn't you learn about chi in kung fu class?" Po asked, surprised at Eagle Jr.'s reaction.

"We didn't learn how to turn our limbs into lanterns, if that's what you mean!"

Xian chuckled. "Don't mind him, Po. He's just jealous."

Eagle Jr. scoffed. "Don't we have a royal family to evacuate?"

Xian's humoured smile vanished, and he pushed away from the wall. "He's right. Where are they, Po?"

"They're supposed to be hiding here in the tower until I came back with you." Po said. "I don't know exactly where."

"What?! Why haven't they escaped through the tunnel, yet?!"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because they love you and wouldn't want to leave without you?" Eagle Jr. said. "Anyway, they're probably hiding near the bottom. Let's go."

Xian facepalmed with a sigh. "Are you sure your arm is alright now, Po?"
"Sure as."

"The entrance to the passage is a hidden elevator on the roof. To reveal it, pull on the torch in the west corner. Open it, and keep it secure until we return."

Po's jaw dropped. "The tower has an elevator?!"

"It's way ahead of its time, I know. My wife Yujin suggested it while the tower was being designed. Can you do this for me, Po?"

Po saluted him with a grin. "Yes sir!" Xian and Eagle were almost out the storeroom until the panda spoke again. "Wait."

Xian and Eagle Jr. looked at him. They noticed that his smile had gone "Yes?"

"You haven't seen Tigress around, haven't you? She's actually the reason I came to the city. I haven't seen her since the Valley was attacked and I was told that she was here in the city."

Xian gave him an odd look. "Po, I told you she helped me escape."

Po's jaw dropped again, as did his stomach. "Wait, she was the 'your friend'?! Why didn't you say?!"

Xian stared. "I-I'm sorry! She was disguised as a soldier and- I thought you two were working together!"

Po whirled and stared out the window. Tigress had been so close. She'd been right there, and he had just left her in the library with a crazy bobtail and a shadow monster. "I... I have to go back."

Eagle Jr. stepped between him and the window. "That is absolutely out of the question. You don't even know if she's still there." Po clenched his fists. This did not escape Eagle Jr.'s notice. "I'm not heartless. I don't want to leave her there either, but you'll never get through the battle outside. Not in one piece."

"But..."

He felt Xian's paw on his shoulder. "Po, he is right. Besides, if you know Tigress as well as you think you do, then you know that she can handle herself until we come back with help."

Po leaned on a barrel for support. "Handle herself? Against Hei Nuwang? Against the creature? Against Ember?"

Xian and Eagle Jr. looked at each other. "Just get the elevator ready." Eagle Jr. said. With that, he and Xian left, leaving Po with his fears.

When Po pushed up the trapdoor and climbed up onto the roof of the tower, the first thing he noticed was the view. The night sky was still spilling embers, and as drifted fell towards the ground their warm orange glow formed luminous spots of light that illuminated every building in the city. Po stared at the stark contrast of black and orange, the combination bringing up images of Tigress's fur. Holding the Heart of China in his paws, Po promised to come back for her.

He stood at the parapet, staring at the enthralling sight for several minutes until he remembered his task. Totally sucking at directions, he had no idea which way was west, but with only four options it shouldn't be a big problem. The three bags of very recently acquired 'special supplies' bouncing against his leg, he pulled the nearest torch, but it didn't budge. He crossed the wide space, passing a massive coil of chains near the middle of the roof, and pulled the opposite torch. Still nothing happened. He turned to the torch on the left.

With a loud curse, Master Monkey tore out the open trapdoor and without looking at Po, yanked the third lever.

Po tucked the emerald away, his heart swelling as he surprised the primate with a bear hug. "Woah, what're yo- Po?!"

"Monkey!" Po did not let go, even when he saw a big hole open up next to the special torch. "Aw man, thank gods you're okay! How did you escape?!"

"How did I escape?!" When Monkey pushed himself free, he too had an ecstatic look on his face. "Brother, you have no idea how great it is to see you!"

"Feeling is totally mutual! What about the others? Are they okay?"

"They're fine, but we've got problems! Those terra cotta warriors have broken into the tower! We have to get the royals out of here now!"

Right on cue, Mantis, Mr. Ping and the royal family clambered out the trapdoor, followed closely by Crane, an injured feline Po quickly recognised as Mei Ling, Xian and Eagle Jr., the last of which threw the trapdoor shut. Crane eased Mei Ling down by the parapet before he noticed Po. "You're okay!"

Po could have laughed especially when his father jumped onto his belly for a hug. First Mantis, then Monkey, and now Crane and Mei Ling. They were all okay. All he needed was Tigress, Shifu, Su and his panda dad and his happiness would be complete.

Xian rushed to the open square hole in the floor, and the metal panel with flame patterns that had appeared inside. "Alright, looks like it's safe. Everyone on no-"

An explosion drowned out the last couple of words. They rushed to the side of the parapet facing the library, where they saw one side of the building being blown outwards. The entire outer wall was gone, disintegrated in a fireball bigger than a house. The soldiers and civilians outside stopped fighting and started running, trying to get as far away from the carnage as possible. No-one could blame them.

With growing horror, Po realised what, or more accurately who, must be responsible. He had seen something like this once before, when Shifu and Tujiu were blown out of the side of the fortress of White Fortitude. Ember. She did that. Oh gods, Tigress is in there.

Chunk!

Po and the others spun round, but it was Xian who had first seen the clay crocodile and threw a knife into its forehead, knocking it off its feet. Zan shrieked and trembled in his mother's arms as she tried to assure him that it wasn't an actual person. Crane went to try comforting the child himself, when the trapdoor was smashed off its hinges, a deluge of claymen pouring out the pit and charging at the flesh and blood warriors.

"Aw come on." Po had all the time to say before the claymen were upon them. As Xian shouted for the non-combatants to stay back, Po and his buddies came down upon the terra cotta fiends, using every trick Master Shifu had taught them. Crane unleashed his Wings of Justice, blowing those in front into those behind and causing a small domino effect. Monkey and Xian threw a torrent of shuriken likely procured from the armoury, shattering clay limbs and heads. Eagle Jr.'s kitchen knife cut off a head. Mei Ling's staff sent two flying over the parapet. Mantis shattered his opponents completely, moving so fast he was invisible. Po took down six with one circular swing of his rock and chain, saw Izumi emerge from the pit and decided to do something drastic.

"Come on!" Xian yelled when the area was briefly cleared, pulling Haoxin, her daughter and grandson towards the elevator. The rest immediately followed, kicking or punching any claymen that got too close. All the while Izumi was shoving her way through the crowd of claymen, intent on having at go at them herself.

Xian, Haoxin, Zun Chunhua and Zan reached the metal panel first, followed by Crane supporting Mei Ling. Mantis jumped on Eagle Jr.'s shoulder as he too rushed to the panel. As Po and Mr. Ping neared, Xian wasted no time pushing the lever back up, and then snapping it. Izumi let out a string of profanities as the metal panel started the sink. Po stopped, aware of his father gripping his leg. "We're going to make it, son. We're going to make it out of here."

The claymen were surging forward again. There was no time. Instead of smiling, Po looked down at his father and pulled him away from his leg. The goose frowned. "Po?"

"I'm sorry, dad, but I can't leave Tigress."

Mr. Ping had a second to realise Po's intentions before his son lifted him and tossed him into the stunned Monkey's arms right before they sank out of sight. Mr. Ping's cries for his son to come back were cut off as stone slab slid shut over their heads.

"NO!" Izumi roared. Po again apologised to his father and turned to face the approaching claymen. "Halt! He's mine!" Izumi ordered, stopping the claymen in their tracks as she charged at Po, wielding a long knife like a sword. Po held the chain taught between his paws, holding it out to block Izumi's knife as she swung at his face. The moment the blade clashed against the chain, Po twisted his arms, wrapping the chain around the knife and yanking it out of Izumi's paw. Izumi vaulted backwards to avoid the kick Po thrust at her and glared at the panda. "You obese little brat!"

"You look ticked." Po said, twirling his rock and chain.

Izumi pulled out two more long knives. "Interfering pests have that effect on me." She attacked, lashing out with the dual blades as Po again lifted the taut chain. One knife got caught in a link, the tip of the other nicking his shoulder. Izumi's wrist getting caught on the chain stopped it from going all the way through. Izumi hissed and swung under the chain like it was a monkey bar, kicking Po in the belly with both feet. The panda skidded across the ground, stopping when his butt hit something cold and hard. He turned his head for a split second, seeing that he had hit the big coil of chains. A crazy idea struck him. He turned his head back to find Izumi charging again. He sent the rock flying towards her. Izumi leapt high in the air. The rock soared beneath her and embedded itself in a stationary clayman. Izumi landed on the taught chain and rushed at Po, a manic grin on her face. Before Po could react, she reached him and sent a vicious kick into his face. As Po fell back, the rock was yanked back out the clayman, flying back and hitting him in the chest. Both sore and winded, Po fell back on the coil of chains.

Izumi landed on the floor, laughing. "Sure the great Dragon Warrior can do better than that? Try again, or the lovely Viper is next!"

Po rolled on his side, so Izumi wouldn't notice him pulling one of the three bags from his belt. "Oh yeah? She beat you once, she'll do it again. Maybe she'll fix the rest of your face!"

Izumi's amusement evaporated. "Fix? She ruined it!"

Po lit a match. "I wouldn't say making you as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside 'ruining it'."

He could see all the blood vessels in Izumi's eyes as her face contorted. She twirled the knives in her paws so they were facing downwards. A perfect position for stabbing an insolent panda to death. As she slowly stalked towards Po, he held the match to the top of the bag until it caught fire.

Izumi stopped dead. Her eyes went wider than ever. Po chucked the flaming back into the crowd of claymen. Izumi took off, leaping on top of the sea of false warriors and using their heads as stepping stones as she raced back to the open trapdoor. Po ducked behind the pile of chains and covered his ears at the same time she dived into the hole. A second later a great sound hit his ears. The shockwave pushed the pile of chains back, nearly knocking him on his face. A high pitched ringing drowned out the other sounds as he peaked over the chains. A big black stain and hundreds of shards of clay were all that remained of both bag and claymen. Many of them still remained, but they hadn't moved an inch.

Po had to act quickly before Izumi recovered. He grabbed one end of the coil of chains and started uncoiling. When he was done, the chain looked to be just about the right length. The other end was attached to a metal loop on the floor. At least he didn't need to find anything to tie it to. Po held the first end in one paw like his life depended on it. Which it did. Now ready, he pulled the other two bags, tied them together, and lit another match.

Just then, he heard Izumi scream from below. "Get him!"

The claymen returned to life, charging at the panda like a flash flood.

Time to go! Po ran for his life, sprinting across the roof with a horde of claymen on his tail, never letting go of the chain. With the second match he lit the tops of both bags and threw them onto the ground. The claymen didn't stop. Being fake, they had no brains.

The parapet opposite the library was getting closer. Po stared straight ahead, terrified at what he was about to do. It's either this or getting torn apart, he told himself. Tigress would have done the same thing. Oh crap, what am I thinking?!

He reached the parapet. There was no turning back. He let out a soft gasp as he bounded over the parapet and jumped right off the tower.

For a single moment, he flew. The illuminated city lay sprawled out before him, a thousand buildings and a million embers. Below, the civilians and soldiers were like hundred of tiny ants, locked in battle for control of the hive. Then Po started to fall. The Heart of China floated in the air before his face, the falling embers and his own exhilarated expression reflected in the facets. It was the most amazing feeling he had ever felt in his life.

Then the chain went taught. High above, a great fireball sent pieces of parapet and claymen flying in all directions. Yelling in excitement and terror, Po held the chain with both paws as he swung back towards the tower, towards the big arch. Towards the partly burning library on the other side. A shower of clay, stone and burning stuff filled the air around him as he reached the arch and swung right thought it. When he was forty feet from the ground he felt the chain catch on the top of the arch. His body swung upwards, and he let go. He flew in a wide arc over the battle below, landing right on top of a pig even bigger and fatter than he was. Po rolled right off, finding that he had landed a mere twenty feet from the library. Even better, there was no-one between him and the doors. Po was through in a flash, still high on adrenaline, and wishing that his friends had been there to see the bodaciously awesome and scary thing he had just did.

Lounging on the head of a great dragon statue that towered over the battle, Hei Nuwang watched the Dragon Warrior return to the building where Ember and the wayward Tigress were likely still located. That's one way to get down. When he was out of sight she looked to the tower, its roof ablaze. To her great pleasure she sensed that Izumi was alive. Smiling, she turned her attention back to the library. With a wave of her paw, an amethyst bridge formed all the way to a second floor window. Ignoring the chaos below, Hei Nuwang strode across. It was time for the panda to make himself useful.