Prophecy Fulfilled
"So where do we stand now?" Mei asked the next morning.
"Well, judging from his injuries, Leo won't be moving for a while," Tigress said. Everyone looked at the sleeping white wolf. "Leo did at least cripple Wong-Hu a bit, but I don't know if it will be enough."
Po thought for a moment. "Well, we're going to have to stay put until the reinforcements arrive. Until then, we're going to have to protect the village. The old lady that lives here says we can stay as long as we want."
"I agree. We either go through with Po's plan or wait for a miracle to happen," Mei sighed. However, on the next night Tigress got an idea, a crazy idea. She emptied out the pack that Mr. Ping gave her and stuffed a bunch of other things she had found from around the village. She snuck out of the team's house and braved up wintry trail Mount Shang with Po's sword strapped to her back. Soon, Tigress found a cave that was guarded by tigers. She hid behind a boulder just away from the guards.
"That must be Wong-Hu's hideout," she said to herself. Suddenly, a shadow came upon her from her back. She jumped around and held the sword at the person's neck.
"Easy! It's just me," Leo whispered.
"Leo? What are you doing here? You should be in bed, resting," Tigress scolded, sheathing the sword.
"And you should be down the mountain," Leo reminded, "My wounds are fine. I was just tired from the healing that's all." He showed her the scar on his abdomen. It was nearly completely faded only after five days! "I heal pretty fast. So what's the crazy idea here?"
"I think... I have a plan," Tigress whispered it to him.
The wolf blinked a couple times. "That's completely insane with only a small percent chance that we'll make it out alive," Leo replied.
"So you'll help me?" She asked.
Leo sighed, "What are we waiting for?" They quickly and quietly took out the guards and sneaked down the dimly lit corridor of the cave until they came to the big open chamber. They saw the cannons and weapons being made as tigers banged their hammers on the weapon. "They're going to attack the village with this power?"
"They're going to destroy the Jin-Min. Some of the soldiers did mention Wong-Hu cleansing the city," Tigress said.
"They don't know what he's talking about. He wants to control all tiger-kind," Leo whispered. "Do you have any idea how to-" Tigress produced a large stick of dynamite in her hand.
"It has a 30 minute fuse. That means we have to put it in a good place," Tigress replied.
"Leave it to me," Leo said as he grabbed the stick. The chamber was made like an assembly line. All Leo had to do was find the most explosive part of the line. He jumped quietly underneath a box and snuck around to one of the barrels of gunpowder. He lit the fuse and scurried back to Tigress near the chamber overlook. "Done."
"Good, let's go," Tigress said. She spun around and saw two massive tigers standing above her.
"Uh-Oh," Leo squeaked.
The next moment, they were thrown onto the floor in Wong-Hu's chambers where the white tiger limped with a bandaged arm. Leo and Tigress's hands were bound and the feline's backpack was tossed to the side.
"For a Kung Fu master, you're not very stealth," He said.
"I blame the panda for rubbing off on us," Leo muttered. Wong-Hu shook his head with a long smile.
"What can a woman and a half-breed wolf do against one of the greatest generals of all China?" Wong-Hu challenged.
"How did you-"
"Come now," Wong-Hu interrupted Leo, "Do you really think I wouldn't notice? I knew from the moment I saw you," He sighed, "Of course, your parents didn't know when I murdered them. It's a pity. A fine tiger soldier with a common snow wolf. It's a shame they produced such an...abomination." Leo growled with a deep tiger-like tone that shocked everyone except Wong-Hu. "Calm, mutt. Don't act like you're a tiger. You're only half."
"Yet that half-breed managed to get your leg, a woman was able to give you that scar on your back, and a panda was able to stand against you," Tigress spoke up.
Wong-Hu smiled widely, "Ah, you mean the dear Zaber. That panda... there's much to be said about that panda. But you're different, my sweet," Wong-Hu said referring to Tigress. "If you join me, you can make all your people proud and there will be no more war."
"No," She answered without hesitation, "I won't do that. I have a job to protect the innocent and that includes Japan."
"If it weren't for Japan warring with us in the first place, you wouldn't have been an orphan!" Wong-Hu shouted.
"And you would have killed me either way," Tigress growled back. Leo smiled. "No, I'm not becoming your Jin-Min Warrior. Before anything, I'm a Kung Fu warrior, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect everyone that I can." Her eyes locked with Wong-Hu. He knew there was no way of changing her, not by persuasion. "You knew we would be here, didn't you."
"Yes, but I didn't know what you would do. So," Wong-Hu said, looking down at Tigress. "What's your plan?"
"Actually," Leo chimed in, "You'll have to find out later because I've been dying to do something." He jumped over one of the guards and sliced through the ropes with the tip of the guard's spear. Tigress summoned all her strength and broke her ropes, knocking the guards beside her with her hands. Wong-Hu's eyes widened as she pushed him to the bed and used a soldier's sword to pin him.
"I should destroy you right now for all the pain you've caused," Tigress said, "But I'll let the Universe decide your fate." She took her backpack and ran out behind Leo. They raced up and out of the chamber, hopping on the heads of the soldiers where they could.
"Let go of me," Leo barked, kicking a soldier in the abs, sending him crashing into other soldiers. They ran to the exit as the whole army started chasing them. "Man, that's an angry orange beehive."
"HA!" Tigress gasped out a laugh. They raced higher to the exit, but the army charged after them.
"How many minutes do we have until that thing explodes!"
"About ten minutes. I guess," Tigress said.
"YOU'RE GUESSING!" Leo shouted.
"Hey, it's better than I don't know! We just need to get to the bottom of the mountain before it goes off," Tigress instructed. They dodged and weaved by guards blocking their way. They finally got outside.
"Okay, we're out, it's cold, and the sun's about to come out. What do we do now?" Leo asked. With the army still charging toward them, Tigress spotted something at the village front. It was a lone cannon guarded by a sleeping rhino.
"I have to get that cannon! Stall for me," Tigress instructed. Leo nodded as he started attacking the orange horde. Tigress bolted down the mountain and into the village at lightning speed. "Chasing Leo really paid off," She gasped. She quickly loaded the cannon as Leo ran to her. The horde still spewed out from the mountain like angry orange bees.
"So what's the plan?" Leo asked.
"Hit the top of that mountain to seal the cave before the dynamite goes off." Tigress took Po's sword and struck it against the cannon. Sparks flew and lit the fuse while she took aim.
"You know that the chances of you hitting the needed point of that mountain are a million to one, right?!" Leo barked.
"Don't tell me the odds!" Tigress roared back.
POOFF!
The cannon went off. Every soldier stopped in their tracks and watched the cannonball zing through the air to the top of the mountain. It hit the mountain with surprising power, knocking rocks over the entry of the cave. It was sealed forever.
"You think the dynamite is going to go off?" He asked. Then...
BOOOM!
The ground shook as the dynamite and all the gunpowder went off, causing an avalanche from the top of the mountain. The soldiers ran for their lives as the raging snow quickly sealed them under an icy tomb. The villagers went outside, and the clear sky showed the thousands of soldiers defeated in the snow. They cheered and celebrated as Tigress breathed a deep breath before sitting down. The reinforcements finally came to capture any strays. Leo rested his hand on Tigress's shoulder.
"You did well, Jin-Min warrior."
"You think?" Tigress asked.
"I think," Leo smiled, "you've brought honor and glory to the Jin-Min." Tigress smiled back.
"Ahem?" said a voice. The two turned back to see Po right behind them. Tigress stood up and found she couldn't meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Po," She said quietly.
"You are as crazy and stubborn and rebellious as your mother," Po stated. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her up, and spun her around. He kissed her on the lips, surprising her as he set her back down. "And I love that about you. I'm just glad that you're all safe," Po smiled. Tigress smiled back. "Don't. Do it. Again, Please," Po said firmly yet pleadingly. Tigress chuckled a little as Mei and Lee came out. Releasing her, Po took his sword back and strapped it to his side. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have to do something." He smiled yet his voice sounded so heavy as he marched to the side of Shang Mountain.
"What is he doing?" Leo asked. Tigress couldn't say.
"I think he's just relieved the war's over," Lee sighed.
"Or," Mei said, "Making sure that it is over."
to be continued.
