Back to China

"Wow, you miss a couple of days and the world goes nuts," Kadiba muttered. Raven, Garfield and the rest were at Lief's mansion. "So what are you two going to be doing next? I don't imagine that Volant is really going to be there in Europe." Garfield looked at Raven for an explanation.

"He's the Animalist that taught me how to fly when my powers weren't working," Raven explained. "And why would he not be in Europe?"

"Po and Tigress have been having a bit of trouble keeping the peace where they are. Ironic really," Verloor said, raising an eyebrow at the joke in his head. "Volant and the others will be in China."

"What's been going on in China?"

"Riots. The emperor has become more tyrannical than his predecessor. It's sparking an outcry among the subjects and Po and Tigress are caught in the crossfire," Verloor said.

"We were planning on going there but then we got stuck in Ethiopia," Lief explained. Raven stood up from her seat.

"Then I need to get there as fast as I can."

"Hold on, little missy," Ada firmly said. "You're not going anywhere until you eat first," She said forcing Raven back down to her table. Beast Boy was surprised to see Raven obey the lioness and then also show a cute pout before eating her food. Garfield couldn't help but smile.

"So, Garfield was it? Tell us a bit more about yourself," Lewe asked.

"Well, I... can transform into different kinds of animals, but that won't be a good idea to do right now since animals here are clothed."

"Hmm, I never thought about the world beyond our realms until Raven came around. Are all of your 'humans' like you?"

"No, no, most of them are very normal and don't have powers like Raven or me. And they're typically not green," Garfield sadly said, looking at his hand. Ada rested her hand on his shoulder.

"Well, even if that is true, we're glad and happy to have you here, where everyone looks different," Ada greatly smiled. Beast Boy had to agree with Raven about Ada. She was a regular Starfire in lion's clothing.

"Tomorrow, Lief and I travel to China since Mr. Beast Boy can transport us there directly. Kadiba, I think it's best that you stay in Ethiopia where the queen needs you. But for tonight, let's just celebrate like you just came here, Raven," Verloor smiled. They continued to celebrate through the night and afterward went to bed.

The next day, Garfield got struggled to put on his cloak. "Here, let me help," Raven kindly offered.

"Thank you, I don't know why Cloak is being difficult today," Beast Boy grumbled.

"Maybe he just wants me to help you," Raven replied with a smirk. The cloak 'licked' Raven's face as a sign of agreement. Verloor and Leif prepared their swords and daggers.

"Do you dudes really need all of that?" Garfield asked.

"You never know what you need until you're facing it," Verloor wisely stated. Raven sniffed the air.

"Okay, I know where Master Tigress is." She said.

"From all the way over here?!" Garfield exclaimed. "That's at least 8,000 miles away!" Raven smirked.

"I have my ways." Making the green teen roll his eyes, Raven tracked onto the exact location of Tigress and gave the information to Garfield. Raven, Beast Boy, Ed, Verloor, and Leif jumped through the portal.

"Well we're here and WHOA!" Garfield shouted, dodging a swung blade at his neck. "Okay, it looks like we've jumped into a butt-kicking fray." Tigress punched the Rhino's sword out of his hand.

"Master Tigress?" Raven asked. The girl dodged a swift swing from a wolf bandit.

"Hey! It's Rae-Rae!" Po exclaimed before getting punched by a boar. "OOW! Why you!"

"Sorry for barging in," Raven apologized, quickly smashing her fist into the ground, sending a shockwave through the ground and knocking the bandits down.

"Barging? You're right on time," Tigress smirked as she, Po, Verloor, Leif, and the two humans formed a line to face the people. But they didn't advance. "You have to stand down, everyone. I understand that the emperor isn't the best, but a civil war will only cause more bloodshed."

"And what would you have us do?" They shouted.

"Go home and spend time with your families," Po suggested. "We'll try our best to reason with the emperor. I promise." They all looked at each other doubtfully. Raven decided to step in.

"Hey," She spoke up, "I know how to fight in wars. If you guys were to get involved, it would just go down in history as another civil war. If the emperor is a tyrant, we'll take care of him permanently," Raven declared forcefully. The crowd believed her and left the warriors alone.

"Phew, man, I missed your weird scary personality, Rae," Po happily said. Raven smiled, hugging the panda then bowing to the tiger.

"It's good to see you again," Tigress smiled warmly, bowing to her student. "And I'm guessing you are this 'special friend' that she was talking about." She smirked. Beast Boy looked at Raven who was slightly blushing.

"Um... I guess so," Garfield replied.

"Cool!" Po exclaimed, poking Garfield's skin, looking at and examining his limbs and face. "I didn't know that humans came in different colors! This is so awesome!"

"Po," Tigress sighed. Garfield felt a little flattered that someone was so excited about how he looked.

"Oh sorry," Po apologized. Garfield smiled as Raven nudged him a bit.

"He seems familiar, Greene?" She smirked. Garfield rolled his eyes. "This is Beast Boy, Aka. Garfield and The Green Wizard." The panda and tiger bowed.

"It is an honor to meet you, Beast Boy. You all have come at a very great time," Tigress sighed, "Why don't we get back to the palace so we can talk more?"

"The palace?" Raven asked.

"That's right," Tigress mentioned, "You've never been to the Jade Palace before. Well, it's time you meet my friends," Tigress smiled.

"Aw, you're going to love them!" Po excitedly said, "There's Crane, Mantis, Viper, Monkey-"

"I'm guessing that most people are just named after their species here?" Raven noticed.

"Hehe, it does seem that way for some of us," Tigress added, "But it's probably the safest place than here," Tigress smirked at Verloor and Leif. "And look who decided to come and visit." She teased.

"Tigress," Verloor sighed, "Must you always tease us like this?"

"Until I feel satisfied that you are sorry for what you've done," Tigress said with a hint of a smirk.

"Soooo... never," Verloor guessed. Tigress only smiled while Po rolled his eyes.

"Let's just get to the palace. I'm worried about Lueduo," Po muttered nervously.

"She'll be fine," Tigress said, patting Po on the back.

"Are you sure? This is her first time fighting with Master Shifu. What if she hurts herself?"

"Like you did?" Tigress smirked.

"Tigress," Po warned.

"I'm sure she's fine," Tigress answered. Raven was a bit confused.

"What are you talking about?" Raven asked. The tiger and panda looked at her, then at Garfield, and lastly at Verloor and Leif.

"You didn't tell them about Lueduo?" Po asked. Verloor slapped his forehead.

"It completely slipped our minds. We were imprisoned, you know," Verloor explained.

"Really? What happened?" Tigress asked.

"One of Queen Jinni's official went rogue again," Leif sighed. "She's made a new kind of democracy because of it."

"Whoa, that's a big step," Po smiled, glad that the female hyena could find a bit of peace.

"Excuse me. Who's Lueduo?" Garfield piped up.

"Oh, that's Tigress and Po's daughter," Ed explained casually. Rae and Garfield looked at each other. Their faces cartoonishly broke into several pieces before reassembling.

"You're married?" Raven said in a controlled voice with as much of a surprised expression as she could muster.

"You two have a BABY TOGETHER?!" Garfield practically screamed.

"Adopted and two children actually," Tigress replied, "Lei-Lei and Lueduo."

"Lueduo, isn't that the Chinese word for Raven?" Leif asked. Tigress nodded. Raven's eyelids swung open.

"Yo... you named your baby after... me?" Raven asked. Po and Tigress smiled as Raven humbly bowed. "I... I'm so honored. What does she look like?"

"Surprisingly, like Tigress. Just as fierce as her, too," Po chuckled and grinned.

"Well, what we waiting for?!" Garfield exclaimed excitedly. "Let's go meet Raven's tiger mini-me!" Rae rolled her eyes as Garfield rushed over to Po. "Where is the Jade Palace?!"

"Uh... just over a few mountains to the west, but why do you-"

"Done!" Without another word, Beast Boy opened a portal to the lush green mountains surrounding the sacred Jade Palace. Perched on a mountain high in the clouds, the Jade Palace dazzled brightly in the rising sun. "Come on!" Garfield urged as he stepped into the portal.

"I can't really act like that, right?" Po asked Raven worriedly. The hybrid simply gave a cheeky smile as the group stepped through the portal.

Continued...